gdal-dataset-identify(1)

GDAL-DATASET-IDENTIFY(1)

GDAL

GDAL-DATASET-IDENTIFY(1)

NAME

gdal-dataset-identify - Identify driver opening dataset(s)

Added in version 3.12.

gdal dataset identify reports the name of drivers that can open one or several dataset(s).

SYNOPSIS

Usage: gdal dataset identify [OPTIONS] <FILENAME>
Identify driver opening dataset(s).
Positional arguments:


  --filename <FILENAME>                                File or directory name [may be repeated] [required]
Common Options:


  -h, --help                                           Display help message and exit


  --json-usage                                         Display usage as JSON document and exit


  --config <KEY>=<VALUE>                               Configuration option [may be repeated]


  -q, --quiet                                          Quiet mode (no progress bar)
Options:


  -f, --of, --format, --output-format <OUTPUT-FORMAT>  Output format. OUTPUT-FORMAT=json|text


  -r, --recursive                                      Recursively scan files/folders for datasets


  --force-recursive                                    Recursively scan folders for datasets, forcing recursion in folders recognized as valid formats


  --report-failures                                    Report failures if file type is unidentified

OPTIONS

--filename <FILENAME>: Any file name or directory name. Required. May be repeated

-f, --of, --format, --output-format json|text: Which output format to use. Default is JSON, or text when invoked from command line.

-r, --recursive: Recursively scan files/folders for datasets.

--force-recursive: Recursively scan folders for datasets, forcing recursion in folders recognized as valid formats.

--report-failures: Report failures if file type is unidentified.

EXAMPLES

Example 1: Identifying a single file

$ gdal dataset identify NE1_50M_SR_W.tif
NE1_50M_SR_W.tif: GTiff

Example 2: Identifying a single file with JSON output

$ gdal dataset identify --of=JSON NE1_50M_SR_W.tif

[


   {


     "name": "NE1_50M_SR_W.tif",


     "driver": "GTiff"


   }
]

Example 3: Recursive mode will scan subfolders and report the data format

$ gdal dataset identify -r 50m_raster/
NE1_50M_SR_W/ne1_50m.jpg: JPEG
NE1_50M_SR_W/ne1_50m.png: PNG
NE1_50M_SR_W/ne1_50m_20pct.tif: GTiff
NE1_50M_SR_W/ne1_50m_band1.tif: GTiff
NE1_50M_SR_W/ne1_50m_print.png: PNG
NE1_50M_SR_W/NE1_50M_SR_W.aux: HFA
NE1_50M_SR_W/NE1_50M_SR_W.tif: GTiff
NE1_50M_SR_W/ne1_50m_sub.tif: GTiff
NE1_50M_SR_W/ne1_50m_sub2.tif: GTiff

AUTHOR

Even Rouault <even.rouault@spatialys.com>

COPYRIGHT

1998-2026

May 28, 2026