What is a VDB file?
A .VDB file usually stores 3D volumetric data. The format was developed by DreamWorks Animation and is managed by the OpenVDB library. Visual effects software uses .VDB files to store complex 3D grids like smoke, fire, and clouds.
Because .VDB is a common file extension, it can mean many different things. Sometimes a .VDB file is a database format. It can act as a standard SQLite database, a Symantec Virus Database File from Symantec, or a definitions file for Dr.Web Anti-Virus. Other uses include Vedis embedded databases, automotive diagnostic data from Launch Tech scanners, Xilinx Vivado design databases, Minecraft world files, or dashcam video recordings.
How to open VDB files?
If your .VDB file contains 3D volumetric data, you can open it with 3D software like Houdini, Blender, or Cinema 4D. If the file is an SQLite database, you can view it with DB Browser for SQLite. Antivirus definition databases and diagnostic files are system files and usually do not need to be opened manually.
Because the .VDB extension is shared across different industries, you might struggle to open it if you guess the wrong software.
Software and tools
Depending on the actual format, you might use different tools:
- Houdini or Blender for OpenVDB 3D files.
- DB Browser for SQLite for SQL database formats.
- Command-line database tools for raw SQL inspection.
Inspecting with viewer.online
viewer.online/vdb can analyze .VDB files to identify the exact format and creator software, inspect the file structure, extract readable text, and check whether an online preview is available.
Summary
viewer.online/vdb is useful for identifying, inspecting, and understanding .VDB files without installing software or dealing with compatibility problems. Because .VDB has multiple possible meanings, we recommend using viewer.online/vdb to identify the actual format of your file.