DBF File

What are DBF files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a DBF 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 DBF files.

What is a DBF file?

DBF files have multiple uses, and xBase Database is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

xBase Database File

Files that contain the .dbf file extension are standard database files. The .dbf file extension is used by several database applications, although the original application that introduced the .dbf file format was the Ashton-Tate dBase database.

While dBase was initially one of the best-selling database software titles, it lost significant market share when applications like Microsoft Access and FoxPro were established. However, many newer database applications still use the .dbf file extension for their database files.

DBF files organize data into records. For example, customer lists, financial data, and product inventories are often stored in the DBF file format.

How to open DBF files

We have identified two DBF openers that are compatible with this specific type of DBF file.

Programs that open xBase Database files

Last updated: August 5, 2026

All known file formats using extension .DBF

While xBase Database File is a popular type of DBF-file, we know of 6 different uses of the .DBF file extension. Different software may use files with the same extension for different types of data.

Apollo Database Engine Data File

We know that one DBF format is Apollo Database Engine Data File. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

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

DBase Data File

A DBase Data File (.dbf) is a table of structured data created and used by the dBASE database management system. It stores data in rows (records) and columns (fields), with each field having a name, type, and fixed maximum size. These files are used to manage data such as lists, inventories, or records that can be sorted, filtered, or queried.

The dBASE program writes .dbf files when a user creates or modifies a table. Each table is self-contained in its own file, and each field of a record holds one type of data - text, number, date, boolean, etc. The records follow the table schema stored in the file's header. Other software, including spreadsheet applications or database systems, can open or convert these files to view or manipulate the data.

For the version 7 dBASE .dbf format the file begins with a header that specifies the file version among other metadata. The header is followed by field descriptors defining each field's name, type, length, and decimal count. Data records follow, each exactly the same length, holding the field values in the order given in the descriptors. The file ends with a one‐byte end‐of‐file marker.

DBF opener for Windows

We have identified one DBF opener that is compatible with this specific type of DBF file.

Psion Database File

We know that one DBF format is Psion Database File. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

Sybase IAnywhere Database File

We know that one DBF format is Sybase IAnywhere Database File. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

Visual FoxPro Data File

Visual FoxPro Data File (.DBF) is a table file used by Microsoft Visual FoxPro to store structured data in a relational database environment. It keeps data organized in rows and columns, where each row is a record (such as one person's information) and each column is a field (such as name, date, number). Visual FoxPro can create .DBF files either as standalone ("free") tables or as part of a database container, which groups multiple tables, defines relationships, default values, validation rules, and supports more powerful database features. The format supports modern data types including numeric, date, datetime, logical, memo, currency, and allows some fields to accept null values.

These files are created, modified and read by Visual FoxPro. The program writes the file's header that describes the table layout (number of fields, their names, types and lengths), stores records in fixed-length format in the .DBF file, and when memo or general blob text fields are included it uses separate memo files (usually with .FPT extension) which the .DBF references by block numbers. Visual FoxPro also uses related index files (CDX), and optional database container files (.DBC) that retain metadata about relationships, triggers, stored procedures, and integrity constraints.

In the file header of a Visual FoxPro .DBF file the first byte (byte offset 0) is the "signature byte" with value 0x30 which identifies the file as a Visual FoxPro table. Other header positions include the number of records, the date of last update, record length, and flags indicating whether the file uses a memo file, is part of a database container, or uses a compound index file. Character sets or code page information is also stored in the header. Field descriptors follow, each occupying 32 bytes for each column, defining field name, type, field length, decimal places, nullable flag, and system ("hidden") status.

Programs that open these DBF files

We have identified one DBF opener that is compatible with this specific type of DBF file.

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of DBF files. Remember, different programs may use DBF 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

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