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.ABW·File Extension

ABW Data & Text — A .abw file is a ABW Data & Text. It is a text-based data format widely used for configuration files, data interchange and API payloads.

Data & Textapplication/x-abiword

Quick facts

Extension.abw

File typeABW Data & Text

MIME typeapplication/x-abiword

CategoryData & Text

Charset—

Compressible—

What is .abw

What is a .abw file?

A .abw file is a ABW Data & Text. It is a text-based data format widely used for configuration files, data interchange and API payloads.

In the mime-db registry it maps to application/x-abiword. When serving .abw over HTTP, set the Content-Type header as shown in Developer info below.

Related entities: it maps to application/x-abiword — and is delivered over HTTP via the Content-Type header.

How to open .abw files

Use VS Code or Notepad++ to open and edit .abw files.
Any text editor (Notepad, VS Code) can inspect the raw content as text.

Developer info

When served over HTTP, responses should set the following header:

Content-Type: application/x-abiword

Common software that reads/writes .abw:

VS CodeNotepad++Sublime Textjq

Relation chain

.abwextension of

format

ABW Data & Textserved as

mime type

application/x-abiwordsent via header

http header

Related extensions

Related MIME types

application/x-abiword

.abw

Common uses

Configuration files
Data interchange between systems
API request and response payloads
Logs and data exports

How to edit .abw files

Open the file with VS Code, make your changes and save.
Most editors preserve the original formatting and encoding — avoid changing the charset.

How to create .abw files

Create a new file and save it with the .abw extension, or export this format from VS Code.

Frequently asked questions

What programs can open .abw files?

Common options include VS Code, Notepad++, Sublime Text. You can also open many of these files with built-in viewers or a browser.

How do I create a .abw file?

Create a new file in any text editor or the app that owns the format and save it with the .abw extension.

What is the relationship between .abw and the application/x-abiword MIME type?

application/x-abiword is the media type identifier used for .abw files during network transfer (for example in the HTTP Content-Type header).

Sources & standards

Updated 2026-09-13

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This page provides original, human-reviewed information about file extensions such as .abw, the File Extension Reference and related concepts. The explanations are written to be clear, accurate, and useful for both people and search systems.

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