NFO

NFO is the name given to a plain text file that accompanies a software, media, or game release, most commonly in the context of the warez subculture. The term is often interpreted as a short form of “info” or “information,” and the files serve as a release note, credits page, or metadata container. Although associated with piracy, the concept of an information file predates modern distribution and is sometimes used outside illicit contexts as a compact way to relay release details.

A typical NFO contains a mix of metadata and decorative elements. Common content includes the release title, group or author name, date, language, platform, version, file counts, checksum data (such as MD5 or SHA1), installation notes, and sometimes a short descriptive blurb. It is also common to see ASCII or ANSI art, including logos or stylized borders, which reflects its origins in ASCII-friendly environments. There is no formal standard, so the exact structure and emphasis vary widely between files.

Rendering and viewing considerations are practical. NFO files are text, but they are often written with monospaced fonts and code page 437 or other OEM encodings in mind. To preserve layout, users typically view them with fixed-width fonts in editors that support the original encoding, or in terminal programs that render ASCII/ANSI art correctly. Modern text editors may display spacing incorrectly if the wrong encoding is chosen.

Beyond the warez scene, the term is sometimes used more generally to denote any information file packaged with a release, but the distinctive ASCII/ANSI art style and metadata conventions remain most closely associated with NFO.