lookup> .coffee

.COFFEE·File Extension

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

Data & Texttext/coffeescript

Quick facts

Extension.coffee

File typeCOFFEE Data & Text

MIME typetext/coffeescript

CategoryData & Text

Charset—

Compressible—

What is .coffee

What is a .coffee file?

A .coffee file is a COFFEE 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 text/coffeescript. When serving .coffee over HTTP, set the Content-Type header as shown in Developer info below.

Related entities: it maps to text/coffeescript and is used by CoffeeScript among others — and is delivered over HTTP via the Content-Type header.

How to open .coffee files

Use VS Code or Notepad++ to open and edit .coffee 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: text/coffeescript

Common software that reads/writes .coffee:

VS CodeNotepad++Sublime Textjq

Relation chain

.coffeeextension of

format

COFFEE Data & Textserved as

mime type

text/coffeescriptsent via header

http header

Content-Type

Related extensions

.litcoffee

LITCOFFEE Data & Text

Related MIME types

Related programming languages

CoffeeScript

.coffee ._coffee .cake

Common uses

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

How to edit .coffee 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 .coffee files

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

Frequently asked questions

What programs can open .coffee 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 .coffee file?

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

What is the relationship between .coffee and the text/coffeescript MIME type?

text/coffeescript is the media type identifier used for .coffee files during network transfer (for example in the HTTP Content-Type header).

Sources & standards

Updated 2026-08-18

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