IRAF user file
File type: Configuration file
An .irafhosts file is a user-specific configuration file for IRAF (Image Reduction and Analysis Facility).
It stores information about IRAF hosts and related user setup used by the IRAF environment.
File type category:
Configuration file
Date updated: September 27, 2026
IRAF is a collection of astronomical image-reduction and analysis software developed at the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO). An .irafhosts file is part of IRAF's user configuration and contains host-related information used by the software.
The file is a text-based configuration file rather than an image, data product, or executable. It belongs with the user's IRAF settings and should generally remain in the location expected by the IRAF installation.
IRAF is legacy software, although existing installations and derivatives may still use its user files. This record applies to the Microsoft Windows version of IRAF.
An .irafhosts file can be opened as plain text with a text editor on Microsoft Windows, such as Notepad or another editor that supports unformatted text. Opening it in a text editor displays its settings but does not run IRAF.
Edit the file only when changing IRAF host or user configuration, and keep it in the location from which IRAF expects to read it.
An .irafhosts file is a configuration file and has no useful conversion to another document or data format. Its contents are intended for IRAF rather than for export.
To move the configuration to another IRAF installation, copy the file and adjust its text settings for the new environment instead of converting it.
Software applications that handle other tasks involving irafhosts files:
Microsoft Windows
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