Files with the .PLIST extension contain a list of properties and settings for Mac OS applications, saved in the XML format – either in text, or in binary form. The format is based on Apple’s Core Foundation DTD.

Main PLIST files for a given apps are saved as Info.Plist in the Content catalog for .APP application packs. They can be viewed by choosing the “Show pack contents” option in the context menu of the APP file and opening the Content sub-catalog. PLIST files which are based on text can be edited using a simple text editor – this is, however, not advised, as they tend to have a very specific structure. The best program for creating and editing the files is the Apple Property List Editor, which is part of the Apple Developer Tools programmer suite. One can, however, also use an external program for editing PLIST files. PLIST files can be converted between binary and XML formats using the Plutil tool, specifically the -convert xml1- option for converting from binary to XML and the -convert binary1- option for converting from XML to binary.