| Extension | .caf |
| Category | audio |
| Description | The Core Audio Format (CAF), an innovation by Apple Inc, is a type of audio file format that encapsulates audio data. It was designed to overcome the limitations of earlier digital audio formats such as the Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF) and Waveform Audio File Format (WAV). Unlike older formats, CAF files are not limited by file size and can support any bit depth and sample rate. The Core Audio Format, native to macOS and iOS, is used for storing and manipulating digital audio data. |
| Technical details | CAF offers numerous benefits. It has no file size limitations, making it suitable for high-capacity recordings. It's compatible with a wide variety of audio codecs, including Pulse Code Modulation (PCM), Advanced Audio Coding (AAC), and MP3. CAF is ideal for professional recording and editing due to its high sample rates, bit depths, and channels. It supports both lossless and lossy compression and can hold a substantial amount of metadata, such as text annotations, markers, channel layouts, and more. The robust structure of the CAF format is designed to reduce the risk of corruption and facilitate efficient editing. While the Core Audio Format is integrated into Apple devices and software, it may require conversion tools for use on non-Apple platforms. Some applications permit non-destructive file editing, allowing users to modify files without altering the original audio data. CAF can also hold non-audio data such as Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) and text. It incorporates timestamps for accurate audio/video synchronization and can support an arbitrary number of audio channels. However, due to its primarily Apple-focused design, the practicality of CAF outside of the Apple ecosystem may be somewhat limited. |
