BMP
What is a BMP file?
The BMP (Bitmap) format, formally known as the Device Independent Bitmap (DIB) file format, is a raster graphics standard developed by Microsoft for the Windows operating system. The file structure consists of a file header (BITMAPFILEHEADER), an information header (typically BITMAPINFOHEADER), a color table, and the pixel array. Data is stored as a grid of pixels with color depths ranging from 1-bit to 32-bit, typically uncompressed, though the format supports lossless Run-Length Encoding (RLE4 or RLE8) and Huffman 1D compression for specific bit depths.
How to open a BMP file
Due to its simplicity and documentation as a core Windows standard, BMP files possess near-universal compatibility. They can be opened natively by virtually all image viewers and web browsers across Windows, macOS, and Linux without additional software. Standard utilities include Microsoft Paint, Apple Preview, and Windows Photos. For advanced manipulation, pixel-based editors like Adobe Photoshop and CorelDRAW are recommended, though the format is rarely used for complex editing due to its large file size.
- Full Name
- Bitmap Image File
- Developed By
- Microsoft
- Initial Release
- 1985
- MIME Type
- image/bmp