Input file
PCAP
- Full Name: Packet Capture Data Format
- Developer: Wireshark
Output file
TEXT
- Full Name: Simple Text Format
- Developer: N/A
What is PCAP file?
A PCAP (Packet Capture) file extension is a commonly used file type for packet sniffers to capture and store data packets from networks. This type of file format is used for capturing network traffic between computers, servers, routers, or any other device on the network. Packet capture technology can collect all kinds of data including networks, websites, or applications. PCAP files typically save data in a binary format for easier storage and processing. [ ⏩ ] PCAP file extension
What is TEXT file?
The .TXT (Plain Text File) file extension is used for text files created on most major operating systems. A text file is simply a file containing plain text, without any formatting or layouts. This allows for large amounts of data to be stored and transmitted in an easily readable format and is used for many applications from software programming to basic word processing. [ ⏩ ] TEXT file extension
Software, that you can use to convert
How to convert the file from PCAP to TEXT?
To successfully convert the PCAP file to TEXT, you should install one of the applications from the list. After installing the software, open the program and select the file you want to convert (file-name.PCAP). The next step is to select the target format from the list, in this case TEXT (usually converters allow you to convert to several different formats, so check out their features - maybe one of the available formats will suit you more than TEXT).
What is a file conversion?
A data conversion is normally an automated process to some extent. The effect of the operation of one program is automatically the input product of another application. If that does not happen we need to help the process a little bit and convert the file on our own, e.g. PCAP to TEXT. To obtain a matched structure of the data, it is necessary to use an appropriate converter.
Program for converting PCAP files to TEXT files is a kind of a "binary code translator" compensating for the differences in the code or translating it in such a way so that another application could use it. For us, as users, the visible change will be only another file extension. (After converting the file, it will be the extension TEXT, while before this step we had the PCAP file). For the programs, the difference is on a much higher level – either the application will be able to open a new TEXT file, or not.