Mathematica > Data Manipulation > Importing and Exporting > Byte
MATHEMATICA IMPORT/EXPORT FORMAT

Byte

Sequence of bytes.
Raw binary format.
Equivalent to the UnsignedInteger8 format.
  • Import can read any file as a sequence of unsigned 8-bit integers.
  • Export writes a list of integers in the range (0, 255) to a binary file.

Import and ExportImport and Export

  • Import["file", "Byte"] imports any file, returning a packed array of integers in the range (0, 255).
  • Export["file", list, "Byte"] exports a list of integers in the range (0, 255) to file.
  • Import["file", {"Byte", elem}] or Import["file", elem ] imports the specified element from file.
  • Import["file", {"Byte", {elem1, elem2, ...}}] imports multiple elements.
  • See the reference pages for full general information on Import and Export.
  • ImportString and ExportString support the Byte format.

ElementsElements

  • General Import elements:
  • "Elements" elements and options available in this file
    "Rules"full rules for each element and option
    "Options"rules for options, properties, and settings
  • Data representation element:
  • "Data"list of integers in the range (0, 255)
  • By default, Import and Export use the element.
  • Import["file", {"Byte", n}] gives the n^(th) byte from file.

OptionsOptions

  • Import option:
  • "HeaderBytes"0how many bytes to skip at the beginning of the file

ExamplesExamplesopen allclose all

Basic Examples (1)Basic Examples (1)

Convert a list of integers to a string representing binary 8-bit unsigned integers:

In[1]:=
Click for copyable input
Out[1]=

Convert the binary data back to an expression:

In[2]:=
Click for copyable input
Out[2]=

Import the same data, assuming it represents an array of 8-bit characters:

In[3]:=
Click for copyable input
Out[3]=

Skip the first 10 bytes on Import:

In[4]:=
Click for copyable input
Out[4]=
Top
New in 5.1 | Last modified in 6
Send Feedback
Mathematica 9 is now available!

400+ new features, including the new Wolfram Predictive Interface, social network analysis, enterprise CDF deployment, and more »

Try Now
Buy/Upgrade
New to Mathematica? Find your learning path »
Have a question? Ask support »