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Why different file types use the PK file signature?

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(@jakeaw03)
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Joined: 17 years ago
Posts: 65
Topic starter  

Hello,

I have been looking around trying to figure out why so many files have the file signature (50 4B 03 04 PK.. ). At first I thought that was just the file signature for zipped files, now I see that its for many others, see below. Can someone explain to me why there are other file types registering under the PK (what I thought was PKZIP) file signature?

50 4B 03 04 PK..

The below list use the above file signature.

ZIP PKZIP archive file (Ref. 1 | Ref. 2)
Trailer filename 50 4B 17 characters 00 00 00
Trailer (filename PK 17 characters …)
DOCX, PPTX, XLSX Microsoft Office Open XML Format Document
JAR Java archive; compressed file package for classes and data
SXC, SXD, SXI, SXW OpenOffice spreadsheet, drawing, presentation, and text files
WMZ Windows Media compressed skin file
XPI Mozilla Browser Archive
XPT eXact Packager Models

Thanks,


   
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keydet89
(@keydet89)
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Joined: 21 years ago
Posts: 3568
 

Can someone explain to me why there are other file types registering under the PK (what I thought was PKZIP) file signature?

It would appear that some of them use compression.


   
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_nik_
(@_nik_)
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Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 93
 

It would appear that some of them use compression.

Not necessarily. A lot of other programes use this foremat beacuse you can store multiple files in it. It's like a mini-filesystem. DOCX is a good example for this. Prior to this, Office uses the compound file format/Microsoft Binary File Format.
The compression is just a added bonus, but it is NOT necessary.
Also there is encryption support as well as wide tool support.
That's why.


   
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(@jakeaw03)
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Joined: 17 years ago
Posts: 65
Topic starter  

Thanks _nik_ that helps and makes sense.


   
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