---
title: ".parquet file — what it is and how to open it"
description: "A .parquet file is an Apache Parquet. A columnar binary data format built for analytics on very large tables. How to open one on Windows, macOS and Linux, and what to convert it to."
url: https://atoneplace.net/file/parquet/
site: "At One Place"
---

# .parquet files

**.parquet file: Apache Parquet**

A columnar binary data format built for analytics on very large tables.

## What opens a .parquet file

- **Windows:** DuckDB, Tad, ParquetViewer, Python (pandas / pyarrow)
- **macOS:** DuckDB, Tad, Python (pandas / pyarrow)
- **Linux:** DuckDB, Tad, Python (pandas / pyarrow)

## What a .parquet file is

Parquet stores tables column by column with per-column compression, so a query that touches three fields of a hundred never reads the rest — the reason data warehouses and Spark, DuckDB and pandas pipelines standardised on it. Files are binary and self-describing, carrying their own schema. Nothing opens one by double-clicking: DuckDB, the Tad desktop viewer or a few lines of Python are the usual routes.

## Converting it

A .parquet file is commonly converted to .csv, .json, .arrow or .xlsx. It is a binary format, so a text editor will show unreadable characters rather than its contents.

## Details

- **Extension:** .parquet
- **Full name:** Apache Parquet
- **Category:** Data
- **MIME type:** application/vnd.apache.parquet
- **Created by:** Apache Software Foundation
- **Format:** Binary

## Common questions

### How do I open a .parquet file?

On Windows use DuckDB; on macOS use DuckDB; on Linux use DuckDB. A columnar binary data format built for analytics on very large tables.

### What is a .parquet file?

Apache Parquet. Parquet stores tables column by column with per-column compression, so a query that touches three fields of a hundred never reads the rest — the reason data warehouses and Spark, DuckDB and pandas pipelines standardised on it. Files are binary and self-describing, carrying their own schema.

### Can I convert a .parquet file?

Yes. It is usually converted to .csv, .json, .arrow or .xlsx, either by exporting from one of the programs listed above or with a format converter.

## Related pages

- [.csv — Comma-Separated Values](https://atoneplace.net/file/csv/)
- [.json — JavaScript Object Notation](https://atoneplace.net/file/json/)
- [.xml — Extensible Markup Language](https://atoneplace.net/file/xml/)
- [.yaml — YAML Data File](https://atoneplace.net/file/yaml/)
- [.log — Log File](https://atoneplace.net/file/log/)
- [.torrent — BitTorrent Metainfo File](https://atoneplace.net/file/torrent/)
- [.dat — Generic Data File](https://atoneplace.net/file/dat/)
- [.vcf — vCard Contact File](https://atoneplace.net/file/vcf/)
- [.sql — SQL Script](https://atoneplace.net/file/sql/)
- [.ics — iCalendar Event](https://atoneplace.net/file/ics/)
- [.sqlite — SQLite Database](https://atoneplace.net/file/sqlite/)
- [.db — Generic Database File](https://atoneplace.net/file/db/)

## Sources

- Media Types Registry — IANA (https://www.iana.org/assignments/media-types/)
- Official vendor product documentation — At One Place (/about/)