IFF 8SVX

IFF is a binary container format invented by Electronic Arts to ensure both forward and backward compatibility between applications. An IFF file consists of "chunks" that may be skipped if the software reading the file is unable to understand the particular type of data. Each chunk consists of a chunk name (four letters in uppercase) and then the 32-bit unsigned length of the chunk (not including the 8 bytes that make up the chunk header itself.)

By offering trouble free exchange of data between various applications, the IFF format played a role on the Amiga comparable with XML files today. It is less human readable but more strict in formatting, and much more compact in terms of size overhead. The vast majority of serious Amiga software stored data in this format, being it audio, graphics or video.