KEY file format
| Extension | .key |
| Category | documents |
| Programs | File Viewer Lite Keynote |
| Main program | Apple iWork |
| Description | In 2003, Apple introduced Keynote software, intending to compete with PowerPoint. This software uses the KEY file extension for presentations. Importantly, the presentations are integrated within the Mac OS X package, containing all necessary elements like slides, images, transitions, and text. KEY files can also contain XML data, a markup language that establishes rules for encoding documents, making them readable by both humans and machines, for the presentations. |
| Technical details | Unfortunately, the specifications of Keynote files are not publicly available. However, some understanding of the Keynote file format can be gleaned from Apple's iWork '05 file format. Essentially, the .key file is a compressed ZIP file holding all presentation components. In the latest Keynote versions, the file is stored with an "index" directory using Apple's proprietary IWA file format. This is a binary file format used by Apple iWork apps for document storage. It also includes a "Metadata" directory with .plist files, a "Data" directory containing image assets like slide backgrounds and photos, and JPG files for previews. Crucially, Keynote files can only be opened using the iWork software suite. To avoid ambiguity, it's essential to consistently refer to these files as either "Keynote files" or "KEY files." In short, Apple created this software for creating and presenting documents. |
| MIME type | application/x-iwork-keynote-sffkey application/vnd.apple.keynote |