What is a .zig file?
Zig Source File · Code and data · Andrew Kelley and the Zig Software Foundation · 2016
A .zig file is Zig source code, a modern systems language positioned as a simpler, safer C. It has no hidden control flow, great cross-compilation, and its toolchain can even build C projects.
What is a .zig file used for?
Zig aims to replace C by keeping manual memory control while removing footguns: no hidden allocations, no preprocessor, explicit error handling with error unions, and comptime code execution instead of macros.
The zig binary doubles as a first-class C/C++ cross-compiler ('zig cc'), which made the toolchain popular even with teams not writing Zig itself. Bun, the JavaScript runtime, is written in Zig.
How to open a .zig file
The .zig format opens in the following apps, grouped by operating system. If one app does not work, try another from the same list. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see how to open a .zig file.
Windows
- VS Code (Zig extension)
- any text editor
macOS
- VS Code (Zig extension)
- any text editor
Linux
- VS Code (Zig extension)
- any text editor
How to convert a .zig file
You can convert a .zig file to exe (compiled) using a conversion tool or the export menu of an app that opens it.
.zig file signature (magic bytes)
Programs recognise a .zig file by the bytes at the start of the file, not by its name. These are the signatures for Zig.
| Hex signature | Offset | Note |
|---|---|---|
| (no fixed signature) | 0 | plain text; no fixed magic bytes |
See the full magic-numbers reference for every format.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .zig file?
A .zig file is Zig source code, a modern systems language positioned as a simpler, safer C. It has no hidden control flow, great cross-compilation, and its toolchain can even build C projects.
How do I run a .zig file?
Install Zig and run zig run file.zig, or zig build in a project with a build.zig file. The same binary cross-compiles for other platforms.
Is Zig a replacement for C or for Rust?
For C, mostly. Zig keeps manual memory management and C-level simplicity, while Rust enforces memory safety through its borrow checker. They solve overlapping problems differently.
What is comptime in Zig?
Code marked comptime runs at compile time using the same language, replacing macros and generics with ordinary Zig code that generates types and values.
Related formats
Sources
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