What is a .CAB file?
CAB is a Microsoft Cabinet archive, used inside Windows installers and updates.
- Did you know
- Microsoft’s CAB format has bundled Windows installation files since the early 1990s.
- Microsoft’s Cabinet files were originally called “Diamond” files and built with a tool named diamond.exe.
- CAB archives can compress with MSZIP (a DEFLATE variant), the higher-ratio LZX, or the older licensed Quantum method.
- 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
- .CAB 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 .CAB file
- Drag a .CAB 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.