{
 "id": "vim-swap-file",
 "name": "Vim swap file",
 "category": "other",
 "identifiers": {
  "extensions": [
   "swp"
  ],
  "mime": [
   "application/octet-stream"
  ],
  "puid": [
   "fmt/1582"
  ],
  "wikidata": [
   "Q105853333"
  ],
  "magic": [
   {
    "offset": 0,
    "hex": "623056494d",
    "notes": "Vim SWAP file"
   },
   {
    "offset": 0,
    "hex": "623056494d20"
   }
  ],
  "signatures": [
   {
    "name": "Vim SWAP file",
    "sequences": [
     {
      "position": "bof",
      "offset": 0,
      "pattern": "623056494d"
     }
    ]
   }
  ]
 },
 "status": "writable",
 "summary": "Vim SWAP file is a temporary file created by the open source Vim text editor, when editing a file. The file's name typically begins with \".\", and ends with \".swp\". The file is normally deleted when editing is complete, but may be left behind in the event of a crash or other abnormal termination. Its main purpose is to periodically record unsaved changes made to the file. It also serves as a lock file. The file format is undocumented, and not necessarily portable. Vim is free and open-source, screen-based text editor program for Unix, released to the public in 1991. Vim was designed for use both from a command-line interface and as a standalone application in a graphical user interface.",
 "tools": [
  {
   "name": "Vim",
   "url": "https://www.vim.org/",
   "reads": false,
   "writes": true,
   "license": "GNU General Public License / Vim license",
   "open_source": true
  }
 ],
 "projects": [
  {
   "name": "File Formats Wiki",
   "url": "http://fileformats.archiveteam.org/wiki/Vim_swap_file",
   "kind": "wiki"
  },
  {
   "name": "PRONOM fmt/1582",
   "url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/PRONOM/fmt/1582",
   "kind": "format-doc"
  },
  {
   "name": "Wikidata Q105853333",
   "url": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105853333",
   "kind": "wiki"
  }
 ],
 "provenance": {
  "sources": [
   "ffw",
   "pronom",
   "wikidata"
  ]
 },
 "updated": "2026-10-24",
 "aliases": [],
 "structure": [],
 "parsers": [],
 "conversions": [],
 "samples": [],
 "claims": [],
 "verification": []
}