Tabla Focus

File format

Tabla Focus Notation

Version 2 · Last updated July 15, 2026

The .tabla format carries user-authored tabla compositions and phrases between Tabla Focus installations. This page is the stable public reference for the format's identifiers, interchange purpose, and security properties.

Format name
Tabla Focus Notation
Current version
2
File extension
.tabla
Media type
application/vnd.tablafocus.notation
Apple UTI
com.tablafocus.notation
Encoding
Binary
Magic bytes
54 42 4C 41 00 02 0D 0A at offset 0
Purpose
Sharing tabla compositions and phrases between Tabla Focus installations
Container
Authenticated encrypted binary container
Executable content
None
Required parameters
None
Optional parameters
None
Fragment identifiers
Not applicable
Intended usage
Limited use
Reference reader/writer
Tabla Focus for iOS

Format scope

Version 2 is an authenticated encrypted binary container. Tabla Focus for iOS is the reference reader and writer. This public description intentionally does not disclose encryption keys or the internal notation document schema.

Interoperability considerations

The format is intended for interchange between Tabla Focus installations. Readers should verify the magic bytes and supported version before processing a file. Independent implementations are not currently specified by this public reference.

Security considerations

The format contains user-authored musical notation and annotations. It contains no executable content. Version 2 is an authenticated encrypted binary container. Readers must authenticate the complete container before decoding, reject authentication failures, impose input-size limits, and treat all imported data as untrusted. Encryption provides application-format confidentiality but is not intended to constitute DRM against determined reverse engineering of the client application.

Change control and contact

The change controller is Tabla Focus. Questions about the format can be sent to hello@tablafocus.com.