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Format

Icon file format

Summary

Name
Icon file format
Identifiers
  • Apple Uniform Type Identifier: com.microsoft.ico
  • MIME: image/x-icon
  • PUID: x-fmt/418
Format type
Image (Raster)
Description
This is an outline record only, and requires further details, research or authentication to provide information that will enable users to further understand the format and to assess digital preservation risks associated with it if appropriate. If you are able to help by supplying any additional information concerning this entry, please return to the main PRONOM page and select ‘Add an Entry’.
File extensions
ico
Source
Digital Preservation Department / The National Archives

Internal signatures

Icon file format

Note
Header: (00000100) followed by number of images used in file. For purposes of this signature, range of limited to 1-9 - the largest number of images that was observed in any Icon file used for testing was 8. Header sequence followed by image directory, then sequence (000028000000{2}0000{2}00000100[01:20]0000000000)

Byte sequences

Min Frag Length
Absolute from BOF
Offset
0
Max offset
None
Byte Sequence
00000100[01:09]00{3}00[00:01]00{1}00{3}00*000028000000{2}0000{2}00000100[01:20]0000000000
Endianness
None

Changelog

  • Updated in V74

    Release date
    31 March 2014

    Icon file format: Merged BOF and VAR sequences to avoid offset issue identified by Ross Spencer.

  • Updated in V55

    Release date
    4 January 2012

    Icon file format: Identifier information added.

  • Added in V49

    Release date
    5 April 2011

    Icon File Format: Signature developed through PRONOM Research.