Sony Digital Camera Alpha Raw Image (.arw)
The ARW file extension stands for Sony Alpha Raw, a raw image file format used by Sony's Alpha series digital cameras. ARW files contain uncompressed, minimally processed data directly from the camera's sensor, allowing photographers to achieve higher-quality images and more precise edits. Introduced with Sony's Alpha DSLR series, this format is based on the TIFF specification and requires specialized software, such as Adobe Photoshop or Sony's Imaging Edge, for viewing and editing.