Core Audio Format

{{Short description|Audio file format}}

{{Infobox file format

| name = Core Audio Format

| icon =

| screenshot =

| caption =

| extension = .caf

| mime = audio/x-caf

| magic =

| released = 2005

| standard =

| url = [https://developer.apple.com/library/content/documentation/MusicAudio/Reference/CAFSpec/CAF_intro/CAF_intro.html Apple Core Audio Format Specification 1.0]

| logo =

| type code = caff

| uniform type = com.apple.coreaudio-format

| owner = Apple Inc.

| latest release version =

| latest release date =

| genre = media container

| container for = digital audio

| contained by =

| extended from =

| extended to =

}}

The Core Audio Format is a container format for storing audio, developed by Apple Inc. It is compatible with Mac OS X 10.4 and higher; Mac OS X 10.3 needs QuickTime 7 to be installed.{{cite web|url=http://www.techisky.com/how-to/convert-caf-file-to-mp3.html |title=How to Convert CAF to MP3 |accessdate=2012-11-27 |date=August 25, 2012 |work=TechiSky}}

Core Audio Format is designed to overcome limitations of older digital audio formats, including AIFF and WAV. Just like the QuickTime .mov container, a .caf container can contain many different audio formats, metadata tracks, and much more data. Like the RF64, it is not limited to a 4 GB file size and a single .caf file can theoretically save hundreds of years of recorded audio due to its use of 64-bit file offsets.{{Cite web|url=https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#documentation/MusicAudio/Reference/CAFSpec/CAF_overview/CAF_overview.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40001862-CH209-TPXREF101 |title=Apple Core Audio Format Specification 1.0/ CAF File Overview |work=Mac Developer Library |publisher=Apple Inc. |orig-date=2005|year=2011 |accessdate=2012-11-27}}

GarageBand, Soundtrack Pro, and Logic Studio use the .caf format for their loop and sound effects library, particularly for surround-sound audio compressed with the Apple Lossless (ALAC) codec. It is also what is used to send Audio Messages over iMessage on iOS and macOS.