A DBF file is a database file format primarily associated with dBase, a database management system (DBMS) that was widely popular in the 1980s and 1990s. DBF files store structured data in a table format, similar to spreadsheets or relational databases. Each DBF file consists of a header that describes the structure of the table (field names, data types, lengths) and a series of records containing the actual data. The data types supported in DBF files typically include character strings, numeric values, dates, and logical values. While dBase is less commonly used today, the DBF format remains relevant because it is supported by many other database and spreadsheet applications. It's often used for storing and exchanging data between different systems, particularly in areas like geographic information systems (GIS) and data analysis. The simplicity and widespread support of the DBF format have contributed to its longevity as a data storage option.