The file format that an application normally reads and writes. The native format of a Microsoft Word document is different from the native format of a WordPerfect document, etc., and there are many et ceteras. Image editing programs, which read a raft of different graphics file types, may also have a native format. For example, although Photoshop supports numerous graphics formats, it has its own proprietary PSD format (see
PSD). Contrast with
foreign format. See
file format.