What is a .ASAR file?
ASAR is an Electron app archive bundling a desktop app’s web code.
- Did you know
- Electron uses ASAR archives to pack the code behind apps like Slack and VS Code.
- ASAR stands for Atom Shell Archive, named after Atom Shell, the original name of the Electron framework.
- An ASAR file packs everything flat with a JSON header that records each file’s offset, so any file can be read directly without unpacking.
- What Analyser reads
- Read software packages and Unix archive streams: Python wheels, NuGet, Chrome/Firefox/VS Code extensions, Electron ASAR, Windows APPX/MSIX, Debian (DEB), RPM, RubyGems, conda, Anki, Microsoft CAB, cpio and ar - showing name, version, dependencies and the file tree.
- Depth of analysis
- .ASAR is an identification-grade format: Analyser recognises it from its bytes and decodes the header metadata it carries, rather than opening it in a full viewer. Formats that do get a full viewer are marked "Full" on the formats page.
- Open a .ASAR file
- Drag a .ASAR file onto the Analyser home page (or tap to pick one). It is identified entirely in your browser - nothing is uploaded, there is no account, and it works offline once installed.