.CONF File Extension
Unix Configuration File
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What is a CONF file?
A CONF file is a configuration or "config" file used on Unix and Linux based systems. It stores settings used to configure system processes and applications. CONF files are similar to .CFG files found on Windows and Macintosh systems.
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Most users will not come across a CONF file unless they are looking to modify specific settings. If you need to open a CONF file, you can use TextMate in macOS or GNU Emacs in Linux.
Some examples of configuration files include rc.conf for the system startup, syslog.conf for system logging, smb.conf for the Samba server, and httpd.conf for the Apache Web server.
Common CONF Filenames
httpd.conf - The Apache HTTP Server configuration file containing "directives" that configure what features are enabled for the Web server. It is often located in the /etc/httpd/ directory on Unix-based systems.
Programs that open or reference CONF files
Generic Configuration File
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A CONF file may also be a plain text configuration file used by various programs to store settings, preferences, and other parameters. It contains information organized into sections and includes application-specific keywords and values that the software reads during startup or runtime to determine how it should operate. Since CONF files are plain text, users can open and edit the files with any text editor.
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Users, such as developers and system administrators, typically encounter CONF files when configuring software manually, troubleshooting issues, or customizing application behavior. Many types of software use CONF files, from system services and server applications to desktop programs.
For example, Subversion, a version control system used by software developers, uses CONF files to store repository settings and user preferences. Other programs may use CONF files to define network configurations, application behavior, or logging options.
NOTE: CONF files are similar in purpose to .CONFIG files that Windows programs use, but are generally simpler and more platform-independent.
How to open a CONF file
You can open CONF files with any text editor, such as Microsoft Notepad, Apple TextEdit, and gedit. The text editors can also edit the CONF files. However, you should only edit CONF files if you understand the settings they contain, since incorrect changes can cause the program that uses the file to malfunction.