MDF File Extension
Have a problem opening a .MDF file? We collect information about file formats and can explain what MDF files are. Additionally we recommend software suitable for opening or converting such files.
What is the .MDF file type?
The .mdf extension is most frequently associated with the Media Descriptor File (MDF) format and file type. MDF is part of the popular proprietary MDS/MDF raw disk image format introduced with Alcohol 120%. The MDS/MDF file pair functions similarly to CUE/BIN and CCD/IMG.
An MDS/MDF image is a verbatim uncompressed copy of a disk. In an MDS/MDF pair, the MDF file is where the actual data is stored, while the MDS file is a small binary file that contains header and track information as well as other metadata for the paired MDF image.
The MDS/MDF format is widely used to make, store and distribute exact copies of optical media. Such disk images are supported by the majority of popular CD/DVD authoring and emulation tools. The format's popularity may be partially related to the fact that Alcohol 120% can bypass several copy-protection mechanisms.
In databases, the .mdf extension belongs to the Microsoft (MS) Database Format (MDF), an SQL-based relational database format. An .mdf SQL database cannot be 'opened,' it should be connected to after it has been made available via MS SQL Server.
Alternatively, the .mdf extension can be linked to Translation Memory Data Find (MDF) files in Trados, a proprietary computer-assisted translation (CAT) framework. Such files assist searches in translation memory.
In industry, the .mdf extension can belong to files in the Measurement Data Format (MDF), a specialized standard format for recording and exchange of data obtained from measurements. An MDF file stores raw measurement data together with processed metadata.
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