BinData

BinData is a term used in computing to describe libraries, modules, or design patterns that model and manipulate binary data in a structured way. The central idea is to describe a binary layout—fields with fixed or variable sizes, bit-level fields, endianness, alignment—and to read from or write to streams accordingly. BinData-style tools are commonly used when dealing with binary file formats, network protocols, or any data interchange requiring precise control over bits and bytes.

The best-known usage is the BinData module for the Perl programming language. This module provides a declarative, DSL-like syntax for defining binary structures and then generating code to pack values into binary form or unpack binary data into high-level values. It supports a range of primitive types, bit strings, arrays, conditional fields, and nested structures, with explicit handling of endianness and alignment.

Similar capabilities exist in other ecosystems under different names. For example, Python developers sometimes use libraries such as Construct or the built-in struct module to achieve binary-descriptor like functionality; other languages feature their own binary-structure libraries or DSLs.

Common applications include protocol parsers, binary file format tooling, data capture and analysis, and test utilities that require deterministic binary layouts. While powerful, BinData-style tools require careful attention to endianness, padding, and platform differences to avoid subtle bugs.

See also: Binary data, Endianness, Bit field, Data encoding, Serialization.