.wav File — Waveform Audio File Format

WAV (Waveform Audio File Format) is an uncompressed audio format developed by Microsoft and IBM in 1991, based on the RIFF (Resource Interchange File Format) container. WAV files store raw pulse-code modulation (PCM) audio data at full quality, making them the standard format for professional audio editing, recording, and mastering. CD-quality WAV audio uses 16-bit depth at 44.1 kHz sample rate, producing approximately 10 MB per minute of stereo audio. The format supports higher bit depths (24-bit, 32-bit float) and sample rates (48 kHz, 96 kHz, 192 kHz) used in professional studio recording. WAV files can technically contain compressed audio (using codecs like ADPCM, GSM, or MP3), but uncompressed PCM is by far the most common usage. WAV is the standard working format for digital audio workstations (DAWs), sound design, film production, and audio archival. While WAV files are large, they preserve complete audio fidelity with zero generation loss through editing operations. The format is universally supported across all major operating systems and audio applications.