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Format

Adobe Flash

Summary

Name
Adobe Flash
Version
8
Identifiers
  • MIME: application/x-shockwave-flash
  • PUID: fmt/505
Description
The Adobe Flash format, SWF, previously known as Shockwave Flash or Macromedia Shockwave Flash, and alternatively known as the Small Web Format, is a file format primarily designed for creating interactive multimedia applications. The format iterates rapidly, often in line with new releases of Adobe Flash or Adobe Air. Prior to version 6 all SWF files were uncompressed, however version 6 introduced the option of using zlib compression. Version 13 introduced the option of using LZMA compression.
File extensions
swf
Source
Digital Preservation Department / The National Archives
Developed by
Adobe Systems Incorporated
Supported by
Adobe Systems Incorporated

Internal signatures

SWF 8

Note
Header (FWS then version number) and end tag (..)

Byte sequences

Min Frag Length
Absolute from BOF
Offset
0
Max offset
0
Byte Sequence
46575308
Endianness
None
Min Frag Length
Absolute from EOF
Offset
0
Max offset
0
Byte Sequence
0000
Endianness
None

SWF 8 - zlib compressed

Note
Header (CWS then version number)

Byte sequences

Min Frag Length
Absolute from BOF
Offset
0
Max offset
0
Byte Sequence
43575308
Endianness
None

Changelog

  • Updated in V83

    Release date
    17 December 2015

    Adobe Flash 8: Added description.

  • Added in V67

    Release date
    26 February 2013

    Adobe Flash 8: Signature developed through PRONOM Research.

    Adobe Flash 8: Outline Entry Added.