DBF

DBF is a family of database file formats originally developed for the dBASE system. The DBF format is used by many legacy and contemporary products, including Clipper, dBASE for Windows, FoxPro, and Visual FoxPro, and it remains a common interchange format for simple tabular data. Files typically use the .dbf extension, and in some systems memo fields are stored in a separate companion file (such as .dbt or .fpt).

Structure and data layout

A DBF file begins with a header that describes the table, including the file version, the date of the last update, the number of records, the header length, and the per-record length. After the header comes a field descriptor array that defines each column: field name (up to 10 characters), type (for example C, N, D, L, M), length, and, where applicable, decimal count. The descriptor array is terminated by a specific byte. Data records follow as fixed-length rows, with each field occupying its defined width. Character fields store text, numeric and date fields are stored in textual form and padded to the field width, and logical fields indicate true/false values. Memo fields reference records in the associated memo file when used by a variant of the format.

Variants and compatibility

Multiple variants exist, including dBASE III/IV and later flavors, FoxPro and Visual FoxPro. Differences across variants mainly concern supported data types, memo storage methods, and minor header details. The DBF format’s longevity and wide software support have made it a common interchange format for small to mid-size datasets, despite the availability of newer formats.