WAV Audio — Uncompressed PCM audio container from Microsoft/IBM.
Quick facts
What is .wav
A .wav file is a WAV Audio — Uncompressed PCM audio container from Microsoft/IBM.
In the mime-db registry it maps to audio/x-wav. When serving .wav over HTTP, set the Content-Type header as shown in Developer info below.
Related entities: it maps to audio/x-wav — and is delivered over HTTP via the Content-Type header.
How to open .wav files
Developer info
When served over HTTP, responses should set the following header:
Content-Type: audio/x-wav
Common software that reads/writes .wav:
Relation chain
Related extensions
Related MIME types
Common uses
How to edit .wav files
How to create .wav files
Frequently asked questions
Common options include VLC, Audacity, Windows Media Player. You can also open many of these files with built-in viewers or a browser.
Create a new file in any text editor or the app that owns the format and save it with the .wav extension.
audio/x-wav is the media type identifier used for .wav files during network transfer (for example in the HTTP Content-Type header).
Sources & standards
Updated 2026-08-18
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