AutoCAD Drawing Format
Autodesk
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The file type .DWG refers to AutoCAD Drawing Database file types. These file store all the data created by the AutoCad software in a database format. Mostly these database files contain digital data of the 2D and 3D images rendered in the AutoCAD software. There have been incremental improvements in the file format over the years from AutoCAD.

The file format is designed in such a way that it offers inter-format operability and hence can also be used on some of the other platforms of Autodesk software. The file is also supported by its open source ASCII version .DXF

Files with DWG extension are used by databases that store projects created with CAD (Computer Aided Design) programs, typically AutoCAD, but many other tools also use this format. DWG files store 2D/3D drawing project data and content metadata. DWG is a binary format, however a text format counterpart, called DXF, also exists.

The most popular CAD format

Compared to other simlar formats, DWG offers high precision and quality of drawings, features very important in many CAD environments. DWG format is used by many professionals, such as engineers, architects, and designers.

Various DWG format types

DWG file are compatible with many CAD tools, but because various different types of DWG format were developed (DWG 2000, 2004, 2007, 2010, and 2013) and although similar in many aspects, they slightly differ in structure. Thus, not all CAD tools support all those formats equally.

DWG file structure: header, class definitions, template (optional), padding, image data, object data, object map, object free space, second header.

.a2l ASAP2 Description Format
.afd Alphacam Flame Drawing Format
.afs STAAD.foundation Project Format
.any AnyRail Layout Plan Format
.ard ArtiosCAD Workspace Format
.bbcd BobCAD-CAM Document
.bdl CoCreate Designer Bundle Format
.bit Xilinx Integrated Software Environment Bitstream Format

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