CIF files exist as 2 different types. Please find information about each of them below.
Type 1: Easy CD Creator Disk Image
General Information
| Title | CIF File Extension |
| Extension | .cif |
| Full Form | Easy CD Creator Disk Image |
| File Type | Disk Image File |
| Developer | Roxio (formerly Adaptec) |
| MIME Type | application/x-cif |
File Function
| Primary Function | Disk image storage |
| Additional Functions | Data backup, reproduction |
| Features | Exact copy, sector-by-sector |
File Characteristics
| Quality | High fidelity |
| Supports Layers | N/A |
| Supports Transparency | N/A |
| Editable | No |
Use Cases
| Data Archiving | Yes |
| CD Production | Yes |
| Software Distribution | Yes |
Security and Practices
| Security Risks | Malicious injection |
| Best Practices | Checksum verification, safe sources |
Historical/Version Information
| Initial Release | 1990s |
| Latest Version | Dependent on software |
Associated Types
| Similar Extensions | .iso, .bin, .nrg, .img |
Software Compatibility
| Software | Usage Policy | OS Compatibility |
|---|---|---|
 Roxio Easy CD Creator |
Commercial | Windows |
| IsoBuster |
Free, Paid | Windows |
| PowerISO |
Free, Paid | Windows, Linux |
Type 2: Crystallographic Information File
General Information
| Title | CIF File Extension |
| Extension | .cif |
| Full Form | Crystallographic Information File |
| File Type | Text-based Data File |
| Developer | International Union of Crystallography |
| MIME Type | chemical/x-cif |
File Function
| Primary Function | Store crystallographic data |
| Additional Functions | Data exchange, Archiving |
| Features | Structured, Human-readable |
File Characteristics
| Quality | High precision |
| Supports Layers | N/A |
| Supports Transparency | N/A |
| Editable | Yes |
Use Cases
| Crystallography | Yes |
| Material Science | Yes |
| Chemical Education | Yes |
Security and Practices
| Security Risks | Low |
| Best Practices | Validation, Standardization |
Historical/Version Information
| Initial Release | Early 1990s |
| Latest Version | CIF 2.0 (2014) |
Associated Types
| Similar Extensions | .cif2, .mcif, .fcf |