FILE TYPE COLLECTION
Data & Configuration File Types
Separate inspecting structured data from running configuration or code.
Choose a workflow
This hub groups structured-data and developer/configuration workflows by the task. Being able to read text does not establish that a target application accepts it. Use a reviewed guide for format-specific structure and encoding.
Identify the consumer
Find the application or parser that expects the file. Its requirements are more useful than opening everything in a generic editor.
Inspect without executing
Work on a copy. Do not run unknown code or load unknown configuration into a live system just to identify it.
Check structure and values
Compare encoding, required fields and value expectations separately. Format identification does not validate every data value.