What is a .stl file?
A .stl file is an STL 3D model. Its registered MIME type is model/stl, which places it in the 3D model family of formats.
STL stands for StereoLithography.
STL is a binary format: the contents are not readable text, so opening it in a text editor shows scrambled characters.
Files of this type usually begin with the bytes 73 6F 6C 69 64. That signature is how programs recognise the format even when the extension is wrong or missing.
STL file format details
| Extension | .stl |
|---|---|
| Format | STL 3D model |
| MIME type | application/vnd.ms-pki.stl, model/stl, model/x.stl-ascii |
| Category | 3D model |
| Text or binary | Binary |
| File signature | 73 6F 6C 69 64 |
| Registered with IANA | Yes |
| Other extensions | None |
How to open STL files
| Windows | STL files (STL 3D model) are made by specific software. The reliable way to open one is with the program that created it; a generic viewer will only show raw data. |
|---|---|
| Mac | The same applies on a Mac: look for a Mac version of the program that makes STL files. |
| iPhone and iPad | Phones rarely open this type of file directly. The viewer above can show what is inside it without installing anything. |
| Android | The same applies on Android. The viewer above shows the first bytes of the file so you can confirm what it is. |
Can you convert a .stl file?
TapToConvert does not convert STL files. The usual route is to open the file in the program that made it and use its Export or Save as option.
STL file FAQ
What is a .stl file?
A .stl file is an STL 3D model, with the MIME type model/stl.
How do I open a .stl file?
With the program that created it. The viewer on this page shows what is inside without installing anything.
Is a .stl file safe to open?
STL files hold data rather than programs, but any file from an unknown source can be crafted to exploit the software that opens it. Keep that software up to date. The viewer on this page only reads the bytes and never runs anything.
What is the MIME type of .stl?
model/stl, and it is also seen as model/stl or model/x.stl-ascii. Web servers send this type so browsers know how to handle the file.
Is STL a text or binary format?
Binary. Its contents are not readable as text.
File type facts come from the IANA media type registry, the mime-db project and the freedesktop.org shared MIME database.