lookup> .orc

.ORC·File Extension

ORC Data File — Optimized Row Columnar storage for Hadoop.

Data & Text
Extension.orc
File typeORC Data File
MIME type—
CategoryData & Text
Charset—
Compressible—
Format familyorc

What is a .orc file?

A .orc file is a ORC Data File — Optimized Row Columnar storage for Hadoop.

In the mime-db registry it has no registered standard MIME type. When serving this file over HTTP, use a Content-Type that matches its actual format.

  • Use Apache Hive or Apache Spark to open and edit .orc files.
  • Any text editor (Notepad, VS Code) can inspect the raw content as text.

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

# No standard MIME type is registered for .orc

Common software that reads/writes .orc:

Apache HiveApache Spark
.orcextension of
format
orcserved as
mime type
—sent via header
http header
  • Configuration files
  • Data interchange between systems
  • API request and response payloads
  • Logs and data exports
  • Open the file with Apache Hive, make your changes and save.
  • Most editors preserve the original formatting and encoding — avoid changing the charset.
  • Create a new file and save it with the .orc extension, or export this format from Apache Hive.

What programs can open .orc files?

Common options include Apache Hive, Apache Spark. You can also open many of these files with built-in viewers or a browser.

How do I create a .orc file?

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

Updated 2026-09-13

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