TrueType Collection file signature
Magic number at the start of the file · ttcf
A TrueType Collection bundles several fonts in one file and begins with the tag ttcf, then a version and a table of offsets to each embedded font.
What this magic number means
A magic number is a short, fixed run of bytes at a known position that tells a program what a file really is, no matter what the filename says. If a file starts with the bytes 74 74 63 66 (the text ttcf), it is a TrueType Collection file.
What each byte of 74 74 63 66 means
Here is the signature byte by byte, the way a hex editor shows it: the position in the file, the value in hex and in decimal, and the character that value stands for in ASCII. Bytes with no printable character show a dot.
| Byte offset | Hex | Decimal | ASCII |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 74 | 116 | t |
| 1 | 74 | 116 | t |
| 2 | 63 | 99 | c |
| 3 | 66 | 102 | f |
Formats that use the 74 74 63 66 signature
These file types in our database carry this signature:
How to check a file's signature
You can read the bytes of any file yourself. They are shown in hex, the same way this page lists them.
Linux & macOS
- xxd -l 16 example.ttc
- hexdump -C -n 16 example.ttc
- file example.ttc
Windows (PowerShell)
- Format-Hex -Path example.ttc -Count 16
Python
- open("example.ttc","rb").read(4).hex()
In your browser
- Drop the file into the WhatFileType identifier, which reads the signature without uploading it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the TrueType Collection file signature?
TrueType Collection files start with the hex bytes 74 74 63 66 (ttcf in ASCII). This magic number identifies the format regardless of the file's name or extension.
How do I check a file's magic number?
Open the file in a hex editor, or run a command such as xxd -l 16 example.ttc on Linux or macOS, or Format-Hex -Path example.ttc -Count 16 in Windows PowerShell, and read the first bytes.
Can a file fake the TrueType Collection signature?
Renaming a file does not change its bytes, so the extension can lie but the signature usually cannot. A genuine TrueType Collection file has these exact bytes; a file with the wrong bytes is not really TrueType Collection, whatever its name says.
Related signatures
Sources
Reuse this signature
This entry is part of the WhatFileType file signature reference, published under a CC BY 4.0 licence with the full provenance for every entry, a copy-paste embed and a JSON export. Credit WhatFileType and the data is yours to republish.