Hex Viewer

The "Hex Viewer" web application (PWA) enables users to visually inspect the content of any file through both hexadecimal and ASCII representations presented side by side. This utility is a valuable tool for pinpointing byte-level anomalies within files or identifying file types based on their magic numbers. Within the hexadecimal section, each byte, composed of 8 bits, is denoted by a two-digit hexadecimal value. Selecting a byte automatically highlights its corresponding ASCII character. In instances where the file's size exceeds the viewport, a scrollbar enables navigation through the entire file. Additionally, a jump tool located in the toolbar facilitates rapid navigation to specified file offsets. This web application operates offline and ensures that file data remains local, without any transmission to external servers.

To use this tool, first allow the page to fully load its resources. Once loaded, the hex viewer becomes available for offline access. Simply drag and drop a file into the viewer or double-click anywhere on the interface to select a file. Upon selection, the extension will display the hexadecimal representation of the given file. Customization options such as adjusting the number of rows and columns are accessible from the toolbar area. Additionally, a tool for jumping to specific bytes within the file is provided.

This utility is particularly useful for identifying file types through the recognition of magic bytes (magic numbers). Many well-known file formats incorporate identifier bytes at specific offsets, allowing file explorers and operating systems to swiftly detect the file type. For instance, the MP3 file format typically begins with the magic bytes "49 44 33," which indicates its identity. Here are 10 examples of magic bytes from some of the most famous file types:

• JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group): FF D8 FF
• PNG (Portable Network Graphics): 89 50 4E 47 0D 0A 1A 0A
• PDF (Portable Document Format): 25 50 44 46
• ZIP (Compressed Archive): 50 4B 03 04
• GIF (Graphics Interchange Format): 47 49 46 38
• WAV (Waveform Audio File Format): 52 49 46 46
• MP4 (MPEG-4 Part 14): 00 00 00 18 66 74 79 70
• DOCX (Microsoft Word Document): 50 4B 03 04
• MP3 (MPEG Audio Layer III): 49 44 33
• EXE (Executable File): 4D 5A

For a more comprehensive list of magic bytes visit Wikipedia.

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