# Magika — Google AI File Type Detection Tool

> Google's deep learning file type detector with 99%+ accuracy. Magika identifies 200+ file types using AI instead of magic bytes, ideal for security scanning and content processing.

## Install

Save the content below to `.claude/skills/` or append to your `CLAUDE.md`:

## Quick Use

```bash
pip install magika
```

```bash
# CLI usage
magika document.pdf image.png script.py unknown_file
# Output:
# document.pdf: PDF document (confidence: 99.9%)
# image.png: PNG image (confidence: 99.8%)
# script.py: Python source (confidence: 99.5%)
# unknown_file: JavaScript source (confidence: 98.2%)
```

```python
from magika import Magika

m = Magika()

result = m.identify_path("unknown_file")
print(f"Type: {result.output.ct_label}")      # "javascript"
print(f"Group: {result.output.group}")          # "code"
print(f"MIME: {result.output.mime_type}")        # "application/javascript"
print(f"Score: {result.output.score:.2%}")       # "98.20%"
```

## What is Magika?

Magika is Google's AI-powered file type identification tool. Instead of relying on file extensions or magic bytes (like the Unix `file` command), Magika uses a trained deep learning model to identify 200+ file types with 99%+ accuracy. It is especially good at distinguishing similar types (JavaScript vs TypeScript, JSON vs JSONL) and detecting misnamed or obfuscated files — critical for security scanning.

**Answer-Ready**: Magika is Google's AI file type detector. Deep learning model identifies 200+ file types with 99%+ accuracy. Better than magic bytes for similar types and obfuscated files. Used in Gmail and Google Drive security. Python library and CLI. 8k+ GitHub stars.

**Best for**: Security scanning, content processing pipelines, and file validation. **Works with**: Python, CLI, any pipeline. **Setup time**: Under 1 minute.

## Core Features

### 1. 200+ File Types

| Category | Types |
|----------|-------|
| Code | Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Rust, Go, Java, C++, ... |
| Documents | PDF, DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, Markdown, LaTeX |
| Data | JSON, CSV, XML, YAML, TOML, Parquet |
| Media | PNG, JPEG, GIF, WebP, MP3, MP4, WebM |
| Archives | ZIP, TAR, GZIP, RAR, 7Z |
| Executable | ELF, PE, Mach-O, Shell scripts |
| Web | HTML, CSS, SVG, WASM |

### 2. Batch Processing

```python
from pathlib import Path

results = m.identify_paths([
    Path("file1.txt"),
    Path("file2.dat"),
    Path("file3.bin"),
])
for path, result in zip(paths, results):
    print(f"{path}: {result.output.ct_label} ({result.output.score:.0%})")
```

### 3. Bytes Detection (No File Needed)

```python
content = b'{"name": "test", "value": 42}'
result = m.identify_bytes(content)
print(result.output.ct_label)  # "json"
```

### 4. Security Use Cases

```python
# Detect file type mismatches
uploaded_file = "profile_photo.jpg"
result = m.identify_path(uploaded_file)
if result.output.ct_label != "jpeg":
    print(f"WARNING: File claims to be JPEG but is actually {result.output.ct_label}")
    # Could be a disguised executable or script
```

## Magika vs Traditional Tools

| Feature | Magika | file (libmagic) | Python-magic |
|---------|--------|-----------------|--------------|
| Method | Deep learning | Magic bytes | Magic bytes |
| Accuracy | 99%+ | ~90% | ~90% |
| Similar types | Excellent | Poor | Poor |
| Obfuscated files | Good | Poor | Poor |
| Speed | Fast (1ms/file) | Very fast | Very fast |
| Types | 200+ | 1000+ | 1000+ |

## FAQ

**Q: Is it fast enough for production?**
A: Yes, ~1ms per file after model loading. Batch mode processes thousands of files per second.

**Q: Does it work on binary files?**
A: Yes, it identifies executables, archives, media, and any binary format.

**Q: How is it used at Google?**
A: Magika powers file type detection in Gmail (attachment scanning) and Google Drive (content safety).

## Source & Thanks

> Created by [Google](https://github.com/google). Licensed under Apache 2.0.
>
> [google/magika](https://github.com/google/magika) — 8k+ stars

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## Quick Use

```bash
pip install magika
magika unknown_file
```

Deep-learning file type detection with 99%+ accuracy.

## What is Magika?

Google's AI file-type detection tool. A deep-learning model identifies 200+ file types more accurately than magic bytes.

**TL;DR**: Google AI file-type detection. Deep learning, 200+ types, 99%+ accuracy. Distinguishes similar types and disguised files. Used inside Gmail/Drive security. 8k+ stars.

**Best for**: Security scanning, content-processing pipelines, file validation.

## Core Features

### 1. 200+ File Types — code / docs / data / media / executables
### 2. Byte-Level Detection — no file required, detect from content
### 3. Security Detection — catch disguised files

## FAQ

**Q: Production-ready?**
A: Yes — ~1ms per file; thousands per second in batch.

## Source & Thanks

> [google/magika](https://github.com/google/magika) — 8k+ stars, Apache 2.0

---
Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/magika-google-ai-file-type-detection-tool-82c22f07
Author: Prompt Lab