[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"extension:v3:en:ifc":3},{"resolvedFromAlias":4,"canonicalExt":5,"ext":5,"name":6,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"updatedAt":9,"popularity":10,"summary":11,"howToOs":12,"quickAnswer":18,"answerIntro":19,"whatIs":20,"description":21,"furtherReading":22,"openInstructions":41,"commonIssues":54,"securityNotes":76,"faq":80,"aliases":93,"mimeTypes":96,"relatedExtensions":97,"breadcrumbs":133,"categoryAnchor":143,"categoryFuturePath":144,"metaDescription":145,"availableHowToOs":146,"openOnDeviceLinks":147,"cannotOpenReasons":163,"cannotOpenFixes":164,"convertOptions":165,"securityAffiliateMessaging":166,"securityAffiliates":167},false,"ifc","Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) BIM exchange file","cad","CAD","2026-06-12T08:43:01.040Z",55,".ifc is an open Building Information Modeling (BIM) exchange format used to share building and infrastructure models between different design, construction, and facility-management applications.",[13,14,15,16,17],"windows","mac","linux","ios","android","To open .IFC files on Windows, in Autodesk Revit, use the IFC open/import workflow described in Revit Help to open or import the .ifc model.","To open an .ifc file, use a BIM/CAD application that supports IFC import—Autodesk Revit, for example, can open/import IFC files. If your app can’t open it directly, look for an “Import IFC” or “Open IFC” option rather than “Open project.”","IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) is an open, standardized data model for BIM data exchange. The common .ifc form is a STEP-based clear-text representation (often called IFC-SPF), and the IFC family also includes XML and compressed variants such as .ifcxml and .ifczip.","Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) is an open international standard for exchanging BIM data among software applications used across construction and facility management workflows. It is widely used when teams need interoperability between different authoring tools and downstream coordination/analysis tools.\n\nThe Library of Congress describes IFC as a “clear text family” and notes the related variants (.ifcxml and .ifczip) that represent the same underlying information in different encodings/packaging. Wikipedia also characterizes .ifc as a STEP-based clear-text representation used for BIM exchange (often referred to as IFC-SPF).\n\nIFC is maintained through buildingSMART’s IFC documentation and is standardized as ISO 16739-1 (data schema), which is why .ifc files are commonly requested for handover and long-term data sharing where vendor-neutral exchange is important.",[23,26,29,32,35,38],{"title":24,"url":25},"Industry Foundation Classes (IFC), Clear Text Family (Library of Congress)","https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000447.shtml",{"title":27,"url":28},"Industry Foundation Classes (Wikipedia)","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industry_Foundation_Classes",{"title":30,"url":31},"IFC4.3 Documentation (buildingSMART standards)","https://standards.buildingsmart.org/IFC/RELEASE/IFC4_3/index.html",{"title":33,"url":34},"IFC4.3 Scope (buildingSMART standards)","https://standards.buildingsmart.org/IFC/RELEASE/IFC4_3/HTML/content/scope.htm",{"title":36,"url":37},"ISO 16739-1:2024 — Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) data schema (ISO)","https://www.iso.org/standard/84123.html",{"title":39,"url":40},"Open an IFC File (Autodesk Revit Help)","https://help.autodesk.com/cloudhelp/2023/ENU/Revit-Model/files/GUID-21EFC097-96F3-428A-AFA4-BFEA4EDAB3D2.htm",{"windows":42,"macos":45,"linux":48,"ios":51,"android":53},[43,44],"In Autodesk Revit, use the IFC open/import workflow described in Revit Help to open or import the .ifc model.","If the file won’t open as a native project, try importing/linking it as IFC instead of using a normal “Open Project” action.",[46,47],"Use a BIM/CAD tool that explicitly supports IFC import (for example, Autodesk Revit’s IFC workflow, if available in your environment), then choose the IFC open/import option.","If the app reports an unsupported format, confirm the file is actually .ifc (not .ifcxml or .ifczip renamed) and obtain a compatible IFC-capable desktop tool.",[49,50],"Use a BIM/CAD application available in your environment that supports IFC import/open; look specifically for an “Import IFC” feature.","If you cannot find a compatible Linux tool, transfer the file to a Windows/macOS machine with known IFC support (for example, Autodesk Revit’s IFC workflow).",[52],"If you don’t have an IFC-capable BIM viewer app installed, transfer the file to a desktop application that supports IFC import (for example, Autodesk Revit’s IFC workflow).",[52],[55,62,69],{"title":56,"description":57,"steps":58},"The app says the .ifc file is unsupported or won’t open","Many design tools don’t treat IFC as a native project format; they require a specific IFC import/open workflow. Also, IFC family variants exist (.ifcxml, .ifczip) and renaming can confuse software.",[59,60,61],"In your BIM/CAD tool, use the dedicated “Open IFC” / “Import IFC” function (Revit documents an IFC-specific workflow).","Verify the file extension and packaging: .ifc is the clear-text STEP-based form; if you received .ifczip or .ifcxml, open it with software that supports that variant instead of renaming it.","If you still can’t open it, ask the sender which IFC version/schema they exported (e.g., an IFC4.x export vs older exports) and try re-exporting to a version your tool supports.",{"title":63,"description":64,"steps":65},"Model opens, but elements/metadata are missing or mapped strangely","IFC is an exchange format; different applications can interpret and map IFC entities and property sets differently, leading to lost classifications, incorrect categories, or partial geometry/metadata on import.",[66,67,68],"Try a different import option (e.g., import vs link) and review the importer’s mapping settings if available.","Ask for a re-export from the source tool using a more compatible IFC setup (often an IFC4.x export if both sides support it).","If the receiving tool is Revit, follow Revit’s documented IFC open/import guidance and confirm you’re using the intended workflow for your use case.",{"title":70,"description":71,"steps":72},"The file is very large or slow to open","IFC-SPF (.ifc) is clear text and can be large for detailed BIM models; opening may be slow due to parsing and model conversion into the receiving application’s internal format.",[73,74,75],"If available, request a trimmed export (only needed disciplines/levels) from the sender to reduce size.","If you receive a compressed IFC variant (such as .ifczip), open it with IFC-aware software that supports that packaging rather than manually extracting/renaming.","Consider linking/importing only what you need (when the tool offers such options) instead of fully converting everything at once.",[77,78,79],"IFC (.ifc) is typically clear-text model data, not an executable format, but it can still carry untrusted content that triggers vulnerabilities in IFC importers/parsers; only open IFCs from trusted sources in production tools.","Because IFC can include extensive metadata and project information, treat received IFC files as potentially sensitive (project details, asset data) and share/store them accordingly.","Be cautious with IFC family variants like .ifczip: compressed packaging can obscure what’s inside until opened by your BIM tool, and large files can cause resource exhaustion during import.",[81,84,87,90],{"question":82,"answer":83},"What is an .ifc file used for?","It is used to exchange BIM data (building/infrastructure geometry and related information) between different construction and facility-management software applications as an open standard.",{"question":85,"answer":86},"Is IFC an official standard?","Yes. IFC is standardized as ISO 16739-1 (data schema) and is documented by buildingSMART as an open international standard for BIM data exchange.",{"question":88,"answer":89},"What’s the difference between .ifc, .ifcxml, and .ifczip?",".ifc is the common STEP-based clear-text representation (IFC-SPF). The IFC family also includes an XML encoding (.ifcxml) and a compressed packaging form (.ifczip), as described by the Library of Congress.",{"question":91,"answer":92},"Does Autodesk Revit open .ifc files?","Yes. Autodesk Revit documentation provides instructions for opening/importing IFC files.",[94,95],"ifcxml","ifczip",[],[98,104,110,116,122,128],{"ext":99,"name":100,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"popularity":101,"summary":102,"howToOs":103},"stp","STEP (ISO 10303) Part 21 CAD exchange file",72,".stp is a STEP (ISO 10303) 3D CAD exchange file, typically a STEP physical file per ISO 10303-21 (Part 21). It’s commonly used to transfer 3D product geometry between CAD systems.",[13,14,15,16,17],{"ext":105,"name":106,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"popularity":107,"summary":108,"howToOs":109},"step","STEP (ISO 10303-21) CAD exchange file",70,".step is a widely used neutral CAD exchange format for sharing 3D product model data between different CAD systems. You typically open it by importing it into a CAD program such as Autodesk Fusion.",[13,14,15,16,17],{"ext":111,"name":112,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"popularity":113,"summary":114,"howToOs":115},"cdr","CDR CAD drawing",43,".CDR is the native drawing document format for CorelDRAW, commonly used for vector graphics, page layout, and print workflows. The most reliable way to open it is with CorelDRAW on a desktop computer.",[13,14,15,16,17],{"ext":117,"name":118,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"popularity":119,"summary":120,"howToOs":121},"cgm","CGM CAD drawing",42,".CGM (Computer Graphics Metafile) is an ISO/IEC 8632 standard graphics metafile that can store 2D vector graphics, raster graphics, and text. It is commonly used for technical illustrations and interchange between systems that support CGM.",[13,14,15,16,17],{"ext":123,"name":124,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"popularity":125,"summary":126,"howToOs":127},"dwg","AutoCAD Drawing File",41,".DWG is a CAD drawing format best known as AutoCAD’s native drawing file, used for 2D/3D design and technical documentation. Open it with Autodesk AutoCAD or a DWG viewer such as Autodesk DWG TrueView.",[13,14,15,16,17],{"ext":129,"name":130,"category":7,"categoryName":8,"popularity":125,"summary":131,"howToOs":132},"dxf","CAD Exchange Drawing (DXF)",".DXF is Autodesk’s Drawing eXchange Format, widely used to exchange 2D/3D CAD drawings between different applications. It’s commonly opened and edited in CAD programs such as AutoCAD-compatible tools and LibreCAD.",[13,14,15,16,17],[134,137,140],{"label":135,"to":136},"Home","/",{"label":138,"to":139},"File Extension Index","/file-extension",{"label":141,"to":142},".IFC","/file-extension/ifc","category-cad","/category/cad","Learn what .IFC files are, how to open them on every platform, common fixes, and security best practices.",[13,14,15,16,17],[148,151,154,157,160],{"os":13,"label":149,"to":150},"Open .IFC on Windows","/how-to/open-ifc-on-windows",{"os":14,"label":152,"to":153},"Open .IFC on Mac","/how-to/open-ifc-on-mac",{"os":15,"label":155,"to":156},"Open .IFC on Linux","/how-to/open-ifc-on-linux",{"os":16,"label":158,"to":159},"Open .IFC on iOS","/how-to/open-ifc-on-ios",{"os":17,"label":161,"to":162},"Open .IFC on Android","/how-to/open-ifc-on-android",[56,63,70],[59,60,61],[],"untrusted_source",[168,172],{"name":169,"description":170,"affiliateUrl":171},"Avast","Avast offers free and premium antivirus software that protects against viruses, malware, ransomware, and phishing. Scan files before opening them to ensure safety.","https://www.avast.com/lp-aff-consumer-store?expid=inf601",{"name":173,"description":174,"affiliateUrl":175},"Norton","Norton 360 delivers comprehensive antivirus protection, VPN, and identity theft monitoring. Scan files for threats before opening to keep your device secure.","http://buy.norton.com/aff_home?utm_campaign=en-ww_nor_n36_aff_nas_nau_nah_cj_nad_low:_sec_nat_mktc_norton_360"]