Data & code

.DB-WAL

Analyser by valjdakosta

SQLite write-ahead log (.db sidecar)

Version
0.00
Status
Local-only
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Home › Formats › .DB-WALID

What is a .DB-WAL file?

A .db-wal file is the write-ahead log for a SQLite database stored as .db, holding committed changes that are waiting to be checkpointed into the main file. Same format as .sqlite-wal.

Did you know
  • The log is named after its database with a "-wal" suffix, so closing the database cleanly lets SQLite checkpoint and then remove it.
  • A .db-wal beside a .db is the clearest sign the database uses WAL journalling rather than the classic rollback journal.
  • Everything committed but not yet checkpointed lives in this log, so it is part of the database real state, not a disposable temp file.
  • Copying a .db without its -wal sidecar can drop the most recent changes, which is why backups should checkpoint first or copy both files together.
What Analyser reads
Open SQLite databases (.sqlite/.db/.sqlite3) and read their full schema in-browser - every table with its columns and row counts, views, indexes, triggers, the CREATE-statement DDL, and a sample of the largest table. Reads the WAL-mode sidecars too: the Write-Ahead Log (-wal) - page size, salts, frame and committed-transaction counts, and the pages it changed - and the shared-memory index (-shm) - valid frame count, database size and checkpoint progress. Also parses .sql dumps (dialect, tables, columns, INSERT counts) and identifies Microsoft Access (MDB, ACCDB).
Depth of analysis
.DB-WAL 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 .DB-WAL file
Drag a .DB-WAL 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.