# BMP – Microsoft Windows Device Independent Bitmap

Driver short name

BMP

Driver built-in by default

This driver is built-in by default

MS Windows Device Independent Bitmaps supported by the Windows kernel and mostly used for storing system decoration images. Due to the nature of the BMP format it has several restrictions and could not be used for general image storing. In particular, you can create only 1-bit monochrome, 8-bit pseudocoloured and 24-bit RGB images only. Even grayscale images must be saved in pseudocolour form.

This driver supports reading almost any type of the BMP files and could write ones which should be supported on any Windows system. Only single- or three- band files could be saved in BMP file. Input values will be resampled to 8 bit.

If an ESRI world file exists with the .bpw, .bmpw or .wld extension, it will be read and used to establish the geotransform for the image.

## Driver capabilities

Supports CreateCopy()

This driver supports the `GDALDriver::CreateCopy()` operation

Supports Create()

This driver supports the `GDALDriver::Create()` operation

Supports Georeferencing

This driver supports georeferencing

Supports VirtualIO

This driver supports virtual I/O operations (/vsimem/, etc.)

## Creation Options

- WORLDFILE=YES: Force the generation of an associated ESRI world file (with the extension .wld).

## See Also

- Implemented as `gdal/frmts/bmp/bmpdataset.cpp`.

- Wikipedia BMP file format