MDF File Extension
SQL Server Master Database File
Overview
An MDF (Master Database File) file is the primary database file of Microsoft SQL Server with an extension .mdf, which contains the data as well as schema.
We can create more than one data file with .mdf file extension for a database whether it does exist in a filegroup or by generating a new filegroup.
Application Category
Database Files
Organization
Microsoft Corporation
Technical Specifications
MIME Type
Standard Identifier
Application/octet-stream
Official media type for SQL primary data streams.
File Signature Details
Hexadecimal Signature
01 0F 00 00
SQL Server proprietary primary data file header.
Location of .MDF File Extension
The default location of .mdf file depends on its SQL Server version:
SQL Server 2005
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\DATA\
SQL Server 2008
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\DATA\
SQL Server 2008 R2
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10_50.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\DATA\
SQL Server 2012
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL11.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\DATA\
SQL Server 2014
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL12.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\DATA\
SQL Server 2016
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL13.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\DATA\
Applications Supported
Microsoft SQL Server Application