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XBM File Format

X BitMap category

XBM is a bitmap stored as C source code — literally an array of hex bytes that a C compiler includes. It was the original X11 icon format, and it still compiles.

Typical use: Convert XBM icons to PNG for viewing, or emit XBM when embedded firmware/Unix code needs a compiled-in bitmap.

About the XBM format

XBM is the most honest image format ever shipped: the "file" is a C source array of hex bytes, compiled straight into X11 applications as cursor and icon bitmaps. Rendered, it is 1-bit black and white — the ancestors of every pixel-art cursor you still use.

Because it compiles, XBM never died: firmware UIs, embedded icons and retro Unix tooling still want it. Converting a PNG down to XBM gives embeddable, compilable art; the other direction previews what the C array actually draws.

Strengths

  • ✓ Compiles directly into C/C++ programs
  • ✓ Zero-payload format — text only
  • ✓ Still required by embedded and Unix tooling

Limitations

  • ✗ 1-bit black & white only
  • ✗ Human-hostile representation
  • ✗ X11 bit order trips up hand-rolled decoders
Structure
C #defines + hex byte array
Types / schema
1-bit, X11 bit order
Compatibility
X11, C compilers, GTK
Best for
Compiled-in cursors and icons

Convert XBM to…

48 direct directions plus 12 workflows, sorted A–Z; 🔥 marks popular targets.

XBM to AVIF Hot XBM to BMP Hot XBM to CIN XBM to CUR XBM to DCX XBM to DDS XBM to FARBFELD XBM to FITS XBM to GIF Hot XBM to GRAY XBM to GRAYA XBM to HDR XBM to ICO Hot XBM to J2C XBM to J2K XBM to JFIF XBM to JP2 XBM to JPE XBM to JPEG Hot XBM to JPG Hot XBM to JPT XBM to JXL XBM to OTB XBM to PALM XBM to PBM XBM to PCL XBM to PCX XBM to PDF Hot XBM to PFM XBM to PGM XBM to PNG Hot XBM to PNG24 XBM to PNG8 XBM to PNM XBM to PPM XBM to QOI XBM to RAS XBM to SIXEL XBM to SVG Hot XBM to SVGZ XBM to TGA XBM to TIF XBM to TIFF Hot XBM to UYVY XBM to VICAR XBM to WebP Hot XBM to XPM XBM to XV

Cross-engine workflows

XBM to 7Z XBM to APK XBM to JAR XBM to TAR XBM to TAR.BZ2 XBM to TAR.GZ XBM to TAR.XZ XBM to TBZ2 XBM to TGZ XBM to TXZ XBM to WIM XBM to ZIP

Convert other files to XBM…

AVIF to XBM Hot BMP to XBM Hot CIN to XBM CUR to XBM DCX to XBM DDS to XBM FARBFELD to XBM FITS to XBM GeoTIFF to XBM GIF to XBM Hot GRAY to XBM GRAYA to XBM HDR to XBM HEIC to XBM Hot HEIF to XBM ICO to XBM Hot J2C to XBM J2K to XBM JFIF to XBM JP2 to XBM JPE to XBM JPEG to XBM Hot JPG to XBM Hot JPT to XBM JXL to XBM OTB to XBM PALM to XBM PBM to XBM PCL to XBM PCX to XBM PFM to XBM PGM to XBM PNG to XBM Hot PNG24 to XBM PNG8 to XBM PNM to XBM PPM to XBM PSB to XBM PSD to XBM Hot QOI to XBM RAS to XBM RAW to XBM Hot SIXEL to XBM SVG to XBM Hot SVGZ to XBM TGA to XBM TIF to XBM TIFF to XBM Hot UYVY to XBM VICAR to XBM WebP to XBM Hot XPM to XBM XV to XBM

Frequently asked questions

What is a XBM file?

XBM is a bitmap stored as C source code — literally an array of hex bytes that a C compiler includes. It was the original X11 icon format, and it still compiles.

How do I convert XBM files online?

Pick a target format from the "Convert XBM to…" list below, drop your file and hit convert. Everything runs in your browser — no install, no upload, no watermark, no limits.

Is it safe to convert XBM files here?

Yes. Every conversion is performed by your own device inside the browser — files never leave for a server, and the page keeps working even offline.

Which formats can XBM convert to?

This page lists all 60 directions across documents, images, audio, video, spreadsheets and archives — each one is its own free converter page.