What is dat file? Understanding and opening dat files
Are you facing difficulties opening dat files on your computer, or wondering exactly what dat file is?
We've got the best software solutions for opening dat files effortlessly.
.dat file type #1: Data file
dat extension is commonly used for various data files in pretty much any kind of application. These files are used to denote files that hold application data resources or comparable data.
Further details
DAT file, or data file, is a generic file type that stores data in a unique format for use by a specific application.
It is used by many different types of software programs, ranging from video games to business applications.
The data contained in a DAT file is typically in a binary format, which can only be interpreted by the program that created it. For example, a video game might use a DAT file to store game data like character profiles, game progress, or world layout information. Similarly, a business application might use a DAT file to store configuration data, user data, or document information.
It's important to note that because DAT files are specific to the program that created them, trying to open a DAT file in the wrong program can result in errors or incorrect data display.
Open dat file with:
FileAlyzer
A free utility for file analysis
.dat file type #2: Barudan/SunStar embroidery design
Embroideries for either Barudan or SunStar stitching machines may also be found in files with a dat file extension.
Further details
DAT extension can also be used for Barudan / SunStar embroidery format is a type of data file used by Barudan embroidery machines.
This file contains instructions for the machine on how to create the embroidery design, including information about stitches, colors, and patterns. It is a proprietary format specific to Barudan machines and software.
Open dat file with:
Embroidermodder 2
Advanced version of the popular Embroidermodder
Embird Embroidery Software
A popular embroidery design and printing software
.dat file type #3: Bitcoin wallet
Files with dat extension can also be found as special wallet.dat files for BitCoin service. Contains a collection of private keys.
Further details
File extension dat is also associated with the Bitcoin P2P payment service used to operate with no central authority or banks, managing transactions and the issuing of bitcoins is carried out collectively by the network.
This specific wallet.dat file stores transaction data and all other related information (keys, metadata, options) about your Bitcoin activity. It contains:
- keypairs for each of your addresses
- transactions done from/to your addresses
- user preferences
- default key
- reserve keys
- accounts
- a version number
- Key pool
By default, the Bitcoin wallet.dat file and other related data are stored in:
C:\Users\"user"\AppData\Roaming\Bitcoin\
At first start of Bitcoin app you will be prompted to set the place of Bitcoin data folder. Bitcon data folder can take about 20 GB of storage space.
If you need to create new Bitcoin data folder later: create a new folder on your hard drive, open command line, go to the folder where is Bitcoin Core installed:
C:\Program Files\Bitcoin
and type:
bitcoin-qt.exe --datadir=path\to\new\location
for example:
bitcoin-qt.exe --datadir=D:\mydata\bitcoindata
Open dat file with:
Bitcoin Core
Default Bitcoin peer-to-peer payment system client
.dat file type #4: Game data
A dat file extension is related to various computer games. A dat file stores game data resources.
Further details
The dat file extension is commonly used for various data resource files for computer programs.
This extension is also frequently used in computer games. Usually many different formats sharing the same file extension, unless the game runs in the same game engine. Sometimes are used for saved game positions.
Open dat file with:
Dragon UnPACKer
A unpacking tool for resource files from computer games
.dat file type #5: Microsoft Internet Explorer cache
Files with dat file extension were also used in some of the previous versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer for temporary caches.
Further details
The dat file extension is also used by Microsoft Internet Explorer for files that contain cached data browsing data. This format was most likely used in some previous version of IE.
Each time you open a Web page, your browser creates a cache file (a temporary copy) of the page's text and graphics.
Open dat file with:
Microsoft Internet Explorer
The default web browser for older versions of Microsoft Windows. Replaced by Microsoft Edge browser.
.dat file type #6: Nero BackItUp drive image
Files with dat file extension are associated with Nero BackitUp, which is backup application. Files include image drives created by the program.
Further details
The dat file extension is also used by Nero BackitUp backup solution. Nero BackItUp automatically backs up your files quickly and easily to your choice of storage media, and creates bootable discs to restore your system if the worst happens.
The dat file contains drive image created by the program.
Runtime DriveImage XML program also creates disk images with the DAT file extension. That DAT format is however completely different for NeroBackitUp and not compatible.
Open dat file with:
Nero BackItUp
As backup utility used to backup selected data, or operating system as well as hard drive
.dat file type #7: Prince of Persia game data
A dat file extension is related to game data used by legendary video game called Prince of Persia.
Further details
The dat file extension is associated with the Prince of Persia, an action platform computer game for MS-DOS, Macintosh, Atari ST, Apple II and various other platforms, developed by Brøderbund and Jordan Mechner and released in 1989.
The dat files store various game data, such as models, animations, maps of dungeons for Prince of Persia game.
Open dat file with:
Prince of Persia
A 2D action platform video game
.dat file type #8: Shareaza thumbnail
Files with dat extension are associated with Shareaza for Thumbnails. These files store some various data used for internal purposes.
Further details
The dat file extension is used by Shareaza for Thumbnails. Thumbnails are reduced-size versions of pictures, used to make it easier to scan and recognize them, serving the same role for images as a normal text index does for words. Visual search engines and image-organizing programs normally use them, as do most modern operating systems or desktop environments, such as Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, KDE, and GNOME.
Open dat file with:
Shareaza
A Peer-to-Peer network client
.dat file type #9: Sony Digital Audio Tape
Files with dat file extension are used by the Digital Audio Tape data format.
Further details
The dat file extension is also used for files that contain Digital Audio Tape data.
Digital Audio Tape (DAT or R-DAT) is a signal recording and playback medium developed by Sony in the mid 1980s. In appearance it is similar to a compact audio cassette, using 4 mm magnetic tape enclosed in a protective shell, but is roughly half the size at 73 mm × 54 mm × 10.5 mm. As the name suggests, the recording is digital rather than analog.
DAT format has the ability to record at higher, equal or lower sampling rates than a CD (48, 44.1 or 32 kHz sampling rate respectively) at 16 bits quantization. If a digital source is copied then a .dat file will produce an exact clone, unlike other digital media such as Digital Compact Cassette or non-Hi-MD MiniDisc, both of which use lossy data compression.
We are sorry, there is currently no software link record to open this dat file type.
.dat file type #10: SPOT image format
A dat file extension is related to the SPOT image file format developed by Spot Image company.
Further details
The dat file extension is also used for SPOT image format.
SPOT is a system for implementing an unobtrusive, always-on-top interface-to-interfaces comprises a spot interface that is sufficiently small that it may lie unobtrusively over any open window such that it is always on top thereby enabling a user conveniently to access any available window without first having to return to a main window or close other open windows.
Open dat file with:
SPOT images
Information analyzing software
.dat file type #11: SWAT database
A dat file extension is related to the SWAT (Soil & Water Assessment Tool) software. The *.dat file stores database.
Further details
The dat file extension is used by the SWAT (Soil & Water Assessment Tool) for its database files.
SWAT databases include data about lands, tillage, pesticides, fertilizers, urban and septic.
Open dat file with:
SWAT
A soil & water assessment tool
.dat file type #12: Tecplot ASCII data
A dat file extension is related to the ASCII data file format used by Tecplot visualization application.
Further details
The dat file extension is associated with Tecplot, a a family of visualization software tools developed by Tecplot, Inc.
The *.dat file contains text (ASCII) data from which the program can generate 3D data. Sometimes can also be found with TEC file extension.
These files can be converted to standard binary PLT format used by TecPlot with preplot.exe program located in the /bin folder inside the program folder. They can also be loaded directly to Tecplot and exported to another format.
Open dat file with:
Tecplot 360
A numerical simulation and CFD visualization software
.dat file type #13: Thumbnail cache
A dat file extension is related to the thumbnail cache format used by some apps.
Further details
The dat file extension is used by some apps, such as Zoner Photo Studio, a picture image editing program for Windows.
The dat file stores thumbnail cache created by these apps.
Open dat file with:
Zoner Photo Studio
A program used to manage pictures and photos
.dat file type #14: Unreal Tournament game data
Files with dat file extension are related to the Unreal Tournament, a 3D first person shooter video game for Windows, Mac and Linux. A dat file contains various game data.
Further details
The dat file extension is associated with the Unreal Tournament, a first person shooter video game for Windows, Linux and Mac OS X (macOS) systems. It is remake of Unreal Tournament game from 1999.
The dat file contains some kind of data used by Unreal Tournament.
Open dat file with:
Unreal Tournament
On-line multiplayer first person shooter computer game
.dat file type #15: Video CD MPEG movie MPEG1
Files with dat extension could be especially in the past found as videos saved in MPEG-1 format..
Further details
File extension dat has also been in the past related for its use Video MPEG movie file format.
A .dat files are stored on VCD (Video CD) optical disks.
Video is stored in MPEG1 video file format. VCDs were replaced by DVD and Blu-ray digital video formats.
VCDs are playable in most DVD and Blu-ray players as well as by multimedia players in computer.
Open dat file with:
Cyberlink PowerDVD
A popular DVD player for Microsoft Windows and Linux