VMT files exist as 2 different types. Please find information about each of them below.
Type 1: Valve Material File
General Information
| Title | VMT File Extension |
| Extension | .vmt |
| Full Form | Valve Material Type |
| File Type | Game Material File |
| Developer | Valve Corporation |
| MIME Type | text/plain |
File Function
| Primary Function | Define materials |
| Additional Functions | Texture settings, Shader parameters |
| Features | Key-value structure, Customizable |
File Characteristics
| Quality | Game dependent |
| Supports Layers | No |
| Supports Transparency | Yes |
| Editable | Yes |
Use Cases
| Game Development | Yes |
| Modding | Yes |
| 3D Rendering | Sometimes |
Security and Practices
| Security Risks | Low |
| Best Practices | Validate syntax, Use SDK tools |
Historical/Version Information
| Initial Release | 2004 |
| Latest Update | With game updates |
Associated Types
| Similar Extensions | .vtf, .bsp, .mdl |
Software Compatibility
| Software | Usage Policy | OS Compatibility |
|---|---|---|
 Valve Hammer Editor |
Free | Windows |
| Valve Source SDK |
Free | Windows |
 Garry's Mod |
Paid | Windows, Mac, Linux |
Type 2: VMware Configuration File
General Information
| Title | VMT File Extension |
| Extension | .vmt |
| Full Form | Valve Material Type |
| File Type | Configuration File |
| Developer | Valve Corporation |
| MIME Type | text/plain |
File Function
| Primary Function | Define material properties |
| Additional Functions | Link textures, shaders |
| Features | Key-value pairs, Plain text |
File Characteristics
| Quality | Configurable |
| Supports Layers | No |
| Supports Transparency | Yes |
| Editable | Yes |
Use Cases
| Game Modding | Yes |
| Game Development | Yes |
| 3D Rendering | Yes |
Security and Practices
| Security Risks | Low |
| Best Practices | Validate syntax, Backup files |
Historical/Version Information
| Initial Release | With Source Engine |
| Latest Version | Continuously updated |
Associated Types
| Related Extensions | .vtf, .vmf, .mdl |
Software Compatibility
| Software | Usage Policy | OS Compatibility |
|---|---|---|
| Valve Hammer Editor |
Free | Windows |
 Valve Source Engine |
Proprietary | Windows, Linux, Mac |