WAV
A RIFF-based audio container commonly used for uncompressed PCM audio, although it can carry several other audio encodings.
General information
- Format name
- Waveform Audio File Format
- Extension
.wav- MIME types
audio/wavaudio/x-wav- Category
- audio
- Data type
- Binary
- Developer
- Microsoft and IBM
Media properties
- Compression
- Varies
- Common codecs
- PCM, LPCM, ADPCM
File signatures
| Offset | Hexadecimal | ASCII | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 52 49 46 46 | RIFF | WAV commonly uses a RIFF container. RIFF alone does not identify a WAV file. |
| 8 | 57 41 56 45 | WAVE | The WAVE identifier distinguishes a conventional WAV file inside the RIFF container. |
Common uses
Uncompressed audio
Audio recording
Music production
Sound effects
Archival audio workflows
Format identifiers
- PRONOM
fmt/6- Media type
audio/wavaudio/x-wav
Related formats
Technical resources
| Resource | Publisher | Link |
|---|---|---|
| WAVE Audio File Format | Library of Congress | Open resource ↗ |
Record information
- Verified
- October 3, 2026
- Last updated
- October 3, 2026