Files with the SWA extension are used to store digital audio material. They are used in Adobe Systems Incorporated products to create multimedia and interactive materials. These can be presentations, animations and content intended for placement on websites.

The data in the SWA file is compressed in a similar way to that in the MP3 format. These files, in addition to the actual audio material, also contain other information contained in the file header. This format is most often associated with Adobe Shockwave.