BAI File

What are BAI files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a BAI file or just wondering what they contain? We explain what these files are used for and show you software that we know can open or otherwise handle your files.

What is a BAI file?

A .BAI file is a Binary Alignment/Map (BAM) Index file.

BAM files are a type of file format used for storing and exchanging genetic alignment information. BAM files are created by aligning DNA sequence reads to a reference genome, and they contain information about the location and alignment of each read on the genome.

BAM Index (.bai) files help speed up access and facilitate work with BAM files by providing an index. BAM Index files store information about the construction and contents of the matching BAM file. The BAM file can be rapidly and precisely searched for particular pieces of data without the need to read through its entirety, thanks to them.

BAM files are often employed in bioinformatic and genomics research, allowing rapid access and analysis of vast amounts of DNA sequence data. BAM files can also be used in other programs like genome browsers and variant callers.

How to open BAI files

Important: Different programs may use files with the BAI file extension for different purposes, so unless you are sure which format your BAI file is, you may need to try a few different programs.

While we have not verified the apps ourselves yet, our users have suggested five different BAI openers which you will find listed below.

Last updated: January 27, 2023

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of BAI files. Remember, different programs may use BAI files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

Help us help others

File.org helps thousands of users every day, and we would love to hear from you if you have additional information about BAI file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.