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