BED File

What are BED files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a BED file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your BED files.

What is a BED file?

A .BED file is an UCSC BED Annotation Track file.

BED files are a way of representing and displaying genetic data, allowing it to be viewed in genome browsers like UCSC Genome Browser. BED files store data about notable characteristics of a genome, including genes, control segments, and structural differences.

The UCSC BED Annotation Track files are a specific type of BED file that includes genomic feature annotations. Data such as the name, location, regulatory region sequence, and function of a gene can be included in these annotations.

The UCSC BED Annotation Track files are a great tool for scientists studying genetics, genomics, and bioinformatics, as they provide an efficient way of visualizing and analyzing genomic data. Researchers are provided with a user-friendly interface where they can view and explore genomic data, enabling them to discover patterns, correlations, and trends.

How to open BED files

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

While we have not verified the apps ourselves yet, our users have suggested two different BED 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 BED files. Remember, different programs may use BED 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 BED file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.