.DAT File Extension

Generic data file created by a specific application; typically accessed only by the application that created the file; may contain data in text or binary format; text-based DAT files can be viewed in a text editor.

Many programs create, open, or reference DAT files, including:

• Microsoft Visual Studio
• Corel WordPerfect
• Nero ShowTime
• Nullsoft Winamp
• SoftVelocity Clarion
• Ontrack EasyRecovery
• Runtime GetDataBack
• Pitney Bowes MapInfo

Winmail.dat files contain formatting information for Rich Text (RTF) messages sent from Microsoft Exchange Server; they are added to the end of e-mails when a recipient's e-mail client does not support RTF messages; the Winmail.dat file is not useful to users that do not use Outlook or Exchange Server to retrieve their mail.

Read more about Winmail.dat files, including how to open them and how to prevent them from being sent.

Video stream from a Video CD (VCD) disc; typically saved in MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 format; contains the actual video data that is played from the VCD.

NOTE: Video CD players should play the video from the DAT files without having to open the files manually.

Data file used by Minecraft, a single and multiplayer block construction game; saved in a compressed GZip format and may save various kinds of data, including player inventory, player position, and world information; used for saving world state information as well as for tracking player progress.

Minecraft DAT files may also store level "chunks," which have a 16 x 16 x 128 map dimension and are loaded on-demand as a player navigates through the world. However, this map format was used prior to the version 1.3 beta release and .MCR files are now used for map regions.

Minecraft DAT files have used different formats over incremental releases of the game. Therefore, one DAT file from one version of the game may not be compatible with another version.

NOTE: Minecraft is a first-person perspective game where players construct and destroy blocks and avoid monsters in a 3D environment. Minecraft server is a Java program that runs as a command-line interface.

Game package file used by SimCity 4, a city building simulation game; may contain several types of game data files, including .SC4MODEL, .SC4LOT, and .SC4DESC files; used for packaging files into usable content for the game.

SimCity 4 DAT files can be browsed using iLives Reader or DataGen (developed by DarkMatter).

File used by the Microsoft Windows registry component; contains data for the system or user-level registry, such as passwords, account settings, or file associations; can be loaded into specific parts of the registry when a user logs into Windows.

A common registry hive file is NTUSER.DAT, which stores the user-level registry information. It is located in the C:\Users\[user]\ directory. Another common DAT file is SCHEMA.DAT, which is a registry backup and restore file that is located in the C:\Windows\System32\SMI\Store\Machine\ directory.