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.TH "GDAL-DATASET-IDENTIFY" "1" "Feb 09, 2026" "" "GDAL"
.SH NAME
gdal-dataset-identify \- Identify driver opening dataset(s)
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Added in version 3.12.

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\fBgdal dataset identify\fP reports the name of drivers that can open one or
several dataset(s).
.SH SYNOPSIS
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.EX
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
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.SH OPTIONS
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.B \-\-filename <FILENAME>
Any file name or directory name. Required. May be repeated
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.B \-f, \-\-of, \-\-format, \-\-output\-format json|text
Which output format to use. Default is JSON, or text when invoked from command line.
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.B \-r, \-\-recursive
Recursively scan files/folders for datasets.
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.B \-\-force\-recursive
Recursively scan folders for datasets, forcing recursion in folders
recognized as valid formats.
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.B \-\-report\-failures
Report failures if file type is unidentified.
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.SH EXAMPLES
.SS Example 1: Identifying a single file
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.EX
$ gdal dataset identify NE1_50M_SR_W.tif

NE1_50M_SR_W.tif: GTiff
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.SS Example 2: Identifying a single file with JSON output
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$ gdal dataset identify \-\-of=JSON NE1_50M_SR_W.tif
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[
   {
     \(dqname\(dq: \(dqNE1_50M_SR_W.tif\(dq,
     \(dqdriver\(dq: \(dqGTiff\(dq
   }
]
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.SS Example 3: Recursive mode will scan subfolders and report the data format
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.EX
$ 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
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.SH AUTHOR
Even Rouault <even.rouault@spatialys.com>
.SH COPYRIGHT
1998-2026
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