PBF is a compact binary format for OpenStreetMap data and Mapbox vector tiles. PBF is built on Google’s Protocol Buffers, packing map data far more tightly than the equivalent XML. OpenStreetMap planet dumps and Mapbox vector tiles both use .pbf yet follow completely different, unrelated schemas. OpenStreetMap adopted the PBF format around 2010 because it is far smaller and much quicker to parse than the original XML planet dump.

How do I open a .PBF file?

Drop a .PBF file onto Analyser at https://analyser.valjdakosta.com/ and it is identified directly in your browser - no upload, no account and no software to install. Inspect geospatial and GIS files without a map: TopoJSON, OpenStreetMap XML, Esri Shapefile siblings (SHP/SHX/DBF/PRJ/CPG), world files, GML, NMEA GPS logs, IGC flight logs, MapInfo TAB/MIF, GDAL VRT, PMTiles, DTED terrain, Esri ASCII grids and SRTM .hgt - surfacing CRS/EPSG, feature/record counts, bounding boxes and elevation ranges. GRIB/NetCDF/GeoPackage/MBTiles/MrSID/ECW identified.

Can I open a .PBF file online for free?

Yes. Analyser is a free online .PBF identifier that runs entirely in your browser - your .PBF file never leaves your device, so there is nothing to upload and no software to install. It even works offline once installed.

.PBF file - what it is and how to identify it online

Analyse a .PBF file

Home › Formats › .PBFID

What is a .PBF file?

PBF is a compact binary format for OpenStreetMap data and Mapbox vector tiles.

Did you know: PBF is built on Google’s Protocol Buffers, packing map data far more tightly than the equivalent XML.
OpenStreetMap planet dumps and Mapbox vector tiles both use .pbf yet follow completely different, unrelated schemas.
OpenStreetMap adopted the PBF format around 2010 because it is far smaller and much quicker to parse than the original XML planet dump.
What Analyser reads: Inspect geospatial and GIS files without a map: TopoJSON, OpenStreetMap XML, Esri Shapefile siblings (SHP/SHX/DBF/PRJ/CPG), world files, GML, NMEA GPS logs, IGC flight logs, MapInfo TAB/MIF, GDAL VRT, PMTiles, DTED terrain, Esri ASCII grids and SRTM .hgt - surfacing CRS/EPSG, feature/record counts, bounding boxes and elevation ranges. GRIB/NetCDF/GeoPackage/MBTiles/MrSID/ECW identified.
Depth of analysis: .PBF 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 .PBF file: Drag a .PBF 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.
Related formats: .TopoJSON · .OSM · .SHP · .SHX · .DBF · .PRJ · .CPG · .PGW · .TFW · .JGW · .WLD · .GML · .NMEA · .NMEA0183 · .IGC · .TAB · .MIF · .VRT and more. See all supported file types.