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AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format) is an uncompressed lossless audio file format developed by Apple in 1988, based on Electronic Arts' Interchange File Format (IFF). AIFF was designed as the standard audio format for Apple Macintosh computers and has remained a staple of professional audio production on macOS ever since. The format stores audio as uncompressed linear PCM data, meaning the decoded audio is bit-for-bit identical to the original source with no quality loss. AIFF supports sample rates from 1 Hz to over 48 kHz in the original specification, though modern implementations support up to 192 kHz and beyond, and bit depths of 8, 16, 20, 24, and 32 bits. AIFF files use the .aiff or .aif extension and can store metadata including artist, album, title, copyright, and annotation text in dedicated chunks within the IFF container structure.

A compressed variant called AIFF-C (also known as AIFC) was introduced to support compressed audio codecs within the same container, including µ-law, A-law, and IMA ADPCM compression. However, standard AIFF without compression remains the dominant form used in professional audio. AIFF is natively supported by macOS, Logic Pro, GarageBand, Pro Tools, and virtually all professional audio software on Apple platforms. On Windows, AIFF support varies — some media players handle it natively while others require additional codecs. AIFF files are functionally equivalent to WAV files in terms of audio quality, with the main differences being the container structure and platform heritage. AIFF is limited to approximately 4 GB like WAV, which led Apple to develop CAF as a modern replacement for large-file professional recording workflows.

Key Features of the AIFF Format

• True Lossless: Stores uncompressed PCM audio — decoded audio is bit-for-bit identical to the original source with zero quality loss
• macOS Native: Built into macOS and supported natively by Logic Pro, GarageBand, Pro Tools, and all major Apple audio tools
• High Resolution: Supports up to 32-bit depth and high sample rates for studio-quality and audiophile recordings
• Rich Metadata: Stores artist, album, title, copyright, annotations, markers, and loop points in dedicated IFF chunks
• AIFF-C Variant: The compressed AIFF-C variant supports µ-law, A-law, and IMA ADPCM compression for smaller file sizes
• Professional Standard: Decades of use in music production, film scoring, and audio post-production make AIFF a trusted archival format

AIFF vs Other Audio Formats

• AIFF vs WAV: AIFF and WAV are functionally equivalent — both store uncompressed PCM audio with a 4 GB size limit. AIFF is Apple-native while WAV is the Windows standard. Most professional audio software supports both equally.
• AIFF vs ALAC: AIFF is uncompressed while ALAC is losslessly compressed. Both preserve perfect audio quality but ALAC files are 40–60% smaller. AIFF is preferred in professional production workflows; ALAC is better for storage and distribution.
• AIFF vs CAF: CAF is Apple's modern replacement for AIFF, removing the 4 GB file size limit and adding multi-codec support. AIFF has broader compatibility with older software and hardware while CAF is better for long-duration professional recordings.