DBF (dBASE)
Also known as: .dbf file, dBASE table, xBase database
DBF is a simple database table format that originated with dBASE and the xBase family of databases. Each .dbf holds one table of records, and the format is still common in legacy systems, FoxPro data, and GIS shapefile attributes.
- dBASE / xBase single-table database format
- Used in FoxPro and GIS shapefile attributes
- Open in spreadsheets; export to CSV
What a DBF file is
A .dbf stores a single flat table: a header defining the fields and their types, followed by fixed-width records. It dates back to dBASE and was adopted by FoxPro, Clipper, and other xBase tools.
DBF still appears today — notably as the attribute table inside an ESRI shapefile, and in older business and accounting systems that never migrated off it.
Opening and converting DBF
Many spreadsheet and database programs open .dbf, and you can export the data to CSV or import it into a modern database for easier use.
DBF files are usually modest in size, holding tabular records rather than media. Convert to CSV when you need the data in a portable, widely supported form.