MAT files: what are they and how do I open them?
Are you facing difficulties opening unknown files on your computer, or wondering exactly what this file is?
We've got the information and best software solutions for opening these files effortlessly.
.mat file type #1: Microsoft Access table shortcut
Files with mat file extension can mainly be found as table shortcuts for Microsoft Access databases. These are used to quickly access a table within the database.
Further details:
The mat file extension is associated with Microsoft Access, a database management system, part of Microsoft Office Suite, developed by Microsoft Corporation.
The mat file contains shortcut to a table within a Microsoft Access database.
Open file with:
Microsoft Access
A relational database management system from Microsoft Office
Microsoft Office
One of the most popular and powerful office suites on market
.mat file type #2: 3ds Max material library
Files with mat file extension may also often be found as so called material libraries from 3ds Max 3D modeling, animation & rendering software.
Further details:
The mat file extension is also commonly used for various "material" files in 3D modeling tools.
For example the popular 3ds Max 3D modeling, animation & rendering software uses its own material libraries (.mat) to define the parameters for displaying textures and lightning on model surface.
Some libraries are provided with 3ds Max, but users can create their own custom libraries.
Open file with:
3ds Max (3D Studio Max)
A widely-used 3D animation application from Autodesk
.mat file type #3: Animation:Master material data
A mat file extension is associated with the Animation:Master and used for its material files.
Further details:
The mat file extension is associated with the Animation:Master, an animation and 3D picture creating tool for the Microsoft Windows operating system.
The mat file contains saved materials data.
Open file with:
Animation:Master
Program for creating 3D pictures and animations
.mat file type #4: ArcView geocoding matching parameters
A mat file extension is related to the ArcView and used for its geocoding matching parameters files.
Further details:
The mat file extension is associated with the ArcView, a geographic information system for Microsoft Windows operating system developed by the ESRI.
The .mat files contains geocoding matching parameter data.
Open file with:
ArcGIS for Desktop Basic (ArcView)
A GIS application used to work with geographic data
.mat file type #5: Bryce material data
A mat file extension is related to the Bryce a 3D rendering tool. A mat file stores material.
Further details:
The mat file extension is associated with the Bryce, a 3D modeling and rendering software for Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac OS X (macOS) operating systems developed by DAZ 3D.
The mat file stores material data.
Open file with:
Bryce
A graphics design tool for making 3D landscaping and animations
Bryce for Mac
3D modeling and animation package for Mac
.mat file type #6: CRiSP Harvest file
Files with mat extension can be also encountered as data files from CRiSP Harvest for Windows.
Further details:
File extension mat is related to CRiSP Harvest, an user-friendly, interactive Chinook salmon harvest forecasting model, developed by School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences, University of Washington.
A .mat file extension is related to the CRiSP Harvest.
Open file with:
CRiSP Harvest
A fishing computer model simulation software
.mat file type #7: Freelancer model textures file
Files with mat suffix may also be found as part of Freelancer computer game. These are game model textures.
Further details:
File extension mat was also used for game model textures in the Freelancer space flight simulation computer game for Microsoft Windows made originally by Microsoft Studios.
Open file with:
Freelancer
A space trading and combat simulation game
.mat file type #8: Game material
Files with mat file extension are related to graphic materials used by various video games.
Further details:
The mat file extension is also frequently used for graphic materials in computer game.
These are generally in different file formats but used for same purpose. Typically bundled together with other graphics elements, like models or meshes, textures etc.
Open file with:
Dragon UnPACKer
A unpacking tool for resource files from computer games
arch05 Explorer
Extractor of *.arch05 game data files
.mat file type #9: MATlab workspace variables file
Files with mat extension can be also occasionally encountered as workspace variables files from MATlab.
Further details:
File extension mat is also known to be used in MATLAB, a numerical computing environment and fourth-generation programming language for Microsoft Windows.
A .mat file contains saved workspace variables in binary format.
Open file with:
MATlab
A high-level technical computing language and interactive numeric computation
.mat file type #10: Ox object-oriented matrix programming language matrix
A mat file extension is related to the Ox object-oriented matrix programming language. A mat file contains matrix data.
Further details:
The mat file extension is associated with Ox.
Ox is an object-oriented statistical system. At its core is a powerful matrix language, which is complemented by a comprehensive statistical library.
Among the special features of Ox are its speed, well-designed syntax and editor, and graphical facilities. Ox can read and write many data formats, including spreadsheets and OxMetrics files. Ox can also run most econometric Gauss(tm) programs.
Open file with:
Ox Professional
Object-oriented statistical system
.mat file type #11: Poser 3D pose file
Files with mat extension can be sometimes found as scripts with 3D pose data used in renders in Poser 3D modeling software.
Further details:
File extension mat is also used in Poser, a 3D animation and modeling software for Microsoft Windows and macOS/OS X operating systems.
This particular type of .mat file contains source code of rendering graphics.
Open file with:
Poser
A popular software for making 3D character arts and animations
.mat file type #12: Pro/ENGINEER material properties file
Files with MAT extension might also be found as material properties files from Pro/ENGINEER.
Further details:
The MAT file extension is associated with the Pro/ENGINEER a 3D CAD, CAM, CAE software for Microsoft Windows operating system aslo known as Creo Elements/Pro. The .mat file contains material properties data.
Open file with:
Pro/Engineer (Creo Elements/Pro)
Set of 3D CAD/CAM/CAE design tools from PTC
.mat file type #13: Vue material file
Files with mat suffix may be also encountered as material files from Vue 3D modeling and rendering tool.
Further details:
Files with mat extension are also used in Vue, a 3D modeling and rendering tool for Microsoft Windows operating system. A .mat file contains material (images, textures) for 3D objects.
Open file with:
Vue
An advanced software for rendering natural 3D environments