What is a .COM file?
A .COM file is a type of computer file known as a DOS Command File. It is an executable program, which means it can perform actions or run a series of commands on a computer. These files are designed to be used with older operating systems like MS-DOS and early versions of Windows. Unlike more common .EXE files, .COM files are stored in a simple binary format and are limited to a maximum size of about 64KB. They also do not contain a header or metadata, which are typically used in files to store information about the file itself.
.COM files are primarily used to execute simple sets of instructions, while .EXE files are generally used for more complex and fully developed software applications. Although .COM files were once common, they are rarely used today in modern computing environments.
If you need to open a .COM file, there are several programs that can do this: - **Wine**: A program that allows you to run Windows applications on other operating systems, such as Linux or macOS. - **DOSBox**: A popular emulator that recreates an MS-DOS-compatible environment, making it possible to run old DOS applications on modern systems. - **Microsoft Windows**: Older versions of Windows can run .COM files directly, but newer versions may require additional components. - **Parallels Desktop for Mac with Windows installed**: This software allows Mac users to run Windows and its applications, including .COM files, on their Macs. - **Android devices with specific emulation apps**: Some apps enable older DOS and Windows programs to run on Android devices. - **WineHQ on other platforms**: Similar to Wine, this can be used on platforms like Linux to run Windows programs.
For users of modern Windows systems, running a .COM file might require setting up a virtual machine or enabling specific legacy components like the NT Virtual DOS Machine (NTVDM) for 32-bit systems. On 64-bit systems, a virtual machine that supports MS-DOS is necessary.
It's important to note that if a directory contains both an EXE and a COM file with the same base filename (for example, "run.exe" and "run.com"), typing the filename without specifying the extension in a DOS or Windows command prompt will execute the .COM file by default. This is due to the way these operating systems prioritize file extensions when executing commands.
Verification
Our goal is to help people find the most up-to-date information about file extensions for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS. We researched over 10,000 file extensions and their respective programs that open those files. If you want to suggest edits or updates about .COM file formats, example files, or programs that are compatible. Please contact us.