Quartus II VHDL design
File type: Text file
A vhdl file is a plain-text VHDL source file used by Quartus II design software.
It contains a hardware description for an FPGA or other programmable logic design.
File type category:
Text file
Date updated: October 12, 2026
The vhdl file extension is associated with Quartus II design software from Altera, now part of Intel. Quartus II is a multiplatform environment for FPGA, CPLD and system-on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC) design.
A vhdl file contains VHDL source code, such as entity, architecture and related design declarations. Quartus II analyzes and synthesizes this source as part of a project, together with project settings and other design files.
Quartus II replaced the MAX+PLUS II design software, and VHDL source files were also used in MAX+PLUS II projects. The Quartus II product line has since been succeeded by Intel Quartus Prime, but VHDL remains a current hardware-description language for programmable-logic design.
Open the vhdl file in Quartus II and add it to the relevant project as a VHDL source file. Quartus II can analyze and compile the source when the project is built.
Because it is a plain-text source file, it can also be viewed in a text editor, although a text editor cannot compile or synthesize the design.
A vhdl file is source code rather than a document intended for format conversion. Quartus II can compile and synthesize it into the device-specific design and programming output required by the project, but this does not convert the source into another general-purpose file format.
Quartus II may also be able to export vhdl files to other formats, depending on the project.
Software applications that can open vhdl files:
Multiplatform
Software applications that can edit vhdl files:
Multiplatform
Software capable of saving vhdl files:
Multiplatform
Software apps that create vhdl files:
Multiplatform
Software applications that handle other tasks involving vhdl files:
Multiplatform
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