Amiga Yabba compressed archive
File type: Archive and compressed file
A .y file is an archive compressed in the Amiga Yabba format.
The format was used with AmigaOS software on Amiga computers.
Found 5 different file type records with the same y filename suffix.
File type category:
Archive and compressed file
Date updated: October 12, 2026
Record marked as obsolete and not updated for a long time.
The Amiga Yabba compressed archive format stores one or more files in a compressed archive. It was associated with AmigaOS, the operating system developed by Commodore for Amiga computers.
The format is obsolete and is no longer commonly used. Compatible versions of StuffIt Expander and other StuffIt products can handle this archive type on Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS, while Amiga Forever can provide access to Amiga software from Windows.
On Microsoft Windows or Apple macOS, try opening the file with StuffIt Expander. Compatible versions of StuffIt and StuffIt Deluxe may also open it.
On an AmigaOS system, use an Amiga archive utility that supports the Yabba format. If the file does not open, its obsolete format may require an older compatible utility or an Amiga environment such as one provided by Amiga Forever.
Extract the archive with compatible StuffIt or Amiga software, then create a new archive in a current format such as ZIP using an archive utility.
Software applications that can open y files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
Software apps that extract y files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
File type category:
Bitmap image file
Date updated: June 21, 2026
The .y file format represents subsampled RAW YUV bitmap images, which are often used in digital video and high-fidelity imaging workflows. In this format, image data is stored as raw pixel values with a YUV color space, where the luminance component (Y) and chrominance components (U and V) are stored separately. Subsampling reduces the amount of chroma information, optimizing storage without significantly impacting perceived image quality.
This format is particularly prevalent in professional video recording, broadcasting, and image analysis environments due to its high fidelity and raw nature. The files typically contain uncompressed, unprocessed pixel data, which can be directly manipulated or analyzed by compatible software.
The y file extension is associated with the Stanford MPEG codec, which is used to encode or decode such image data. Additionally, these files often contain part of split Subsampled RAW YUV bitmap images, commonly stored in PPM (Portable Pixmap) format or similar raw image containers.
Many media players and image editing software support the .y format via specialized codecs or plugins. Popular tools like FFmpeg can decode and convert these files into other formats, such as JPEG or PNG, for easier viewing and processing. Cross-platform compatibility is generally good, although some workflows may require specific configurations or auxiliary files for interpretation.
To open .y files, use media players or image processing software that supports raw YUV formats. On Windows, software like FFmpeg or VLC Media Player can be used to view or convert these images. On MacOS, applications such as QuickTime with appropriate plugins or FFmpeg are recommended. Linux users can typically handle .y files with command-line tools like FFmpeg or GUI-based programs that support raw video and image formats.
Ensure to set the correct resolution and color parameters during viewing or conversion to interpret the pixel data properly, including chroma subsampling and color space settings.
Converting .y files to more common image formats can be easily achieved with FFmpeg, which supports a wide range of raw YUV formats. A typical command involves specifying the input file, pixel format, resolution, and desired output format such as JPEG or PNG.
Online converters for raw YUV formats are scarce, but desktop tools like FFmpeg provide extensive options for conversion, including extracting individual frames, changing resolution, and adjusting color parameters. Consult the software documentation for precise command options to ensure accurate conversion.
File type category:
Various data file
Date updated: May 17, 2019
The y file extension is associated with the UNIX multi-user and multi-tasking operating system for various hardware platforms, also used as the base of other systems, like Mac OS X (macOS), Linux, Solaris etc.
The y file stores yacc grammar data.
Probably not meant to be accessed by the user.
Probably cannot be converted to anything else.
Software applications that handle other tasks involving y files:
Linux/Unix
File type category:
Source code and script file
Date updated: September 28, 2026
Xcode is Apple's integrated development environment for creating applications for macOS and iOS. In an Xcode project, a .y file contains yacc source used to define the rules for a parser.
During the build process, Xcode can pass the file to yacc to generate parser source code, which is then compiled with the rest of the project. The file is normally plain-text source code and forms part of the project's development files rather than a finished application.
This file type is associated with Xcode on Apple Mac OS X and macOS systems. It remains useful in projects that use yacc-based parser generation.
Open the .y file in Xcode on a Mac. If it belongs to an Xcode project, open the project first and select the file in the project navigator so that it is treated as source code.
The file is plain text, so it can also be inspected with a text editor. To generate the parser produced by the file, use the appropriate yacc build step in the Xcode project.
A yacc source file is not normally converted to another file format. Its purpose is to be processed during an Xcode build, which generates parser source code rather than a converted copy of the original file.
To obtain generated parser code, build the associated Xcode project with its yacc processing configured.
Software applications that handle other tasks involving y files:
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
File type category:
Various data file
Date updated: September 28, 2026
The .y file extension is associated with Yet Another Compiler-Compiler (YACC). The original yacc program was developed by Stephen C. Johnson at AT&T for the Unix operating system.
A YACC grammar describes the rules of a language in a notation similar to Backus-Naur form (BNF). YACC uses these rules to generate a parser, which is the part of a compiler that analyses source code and determines whether it follows the defined syntax.
The .y file contains the grammar data and may also include declarations, action code and other instructions used when generating the parser. YACC and compatible parser generators remain available on Unix and Unix-like systems, although newer compiler toolchains may use compatible implementations.
Open a .y file in a plain-text or source-code editor to read or edit its grammar. It is not normally opened as a document in a general-purpose application.
To process the file, run YACC or a compatible parser generator on a Unix or Unix-like system. The program reads the grammar and produces parser source code, normally in C, which can then be compiled with the rest of the project.
A YACC grammar is source data for a parser generator, so it normally has no useful standalone conversion. Keep it as a text-based .y file when moving it between compatible YACC implementations.
A compatible parser generator can process the grammar and generate parser source code, but that is a build step rather than a conversion to another document format. Moving the grammar to a different parser-generator implementation may require manual changes to its syntax or embedded action code.
Language
