Drop a .jdx or .dx file to view your spectrum instantly — free, no install
JCAMP-DX (Joint Committee on Atomic and Molecular Physical Data — Data Exchange) is an IUPAC-endorsed open standard for encoding and sharing spectroscopic data. First published in 1988 and updated through version 5.01, it is the most widely supported format for spectral data interchange.
Unlike proprietary binary formats — Bruker OPUS, Thermo Fisher SPC, Shimadzu SPC — JCAMP-DX files are plain ASCII text. You can open a .jdx file in any text editor and read the metadata directly: compound name, instrument parameters, data type, and the spectral data itself. This transparency makes JCAMP-DX the preferred format for spectral databases (NIST, SDBS, SpectraBase, ROD), academic publications, and long-term data archiving.
JCAMP-DX files use the .jdx, .dx, or .jcamp file extension. The format supports multiple data encoding schemes: AFFN (plain ASCII fixed-point notation), and ASDF (ASCII Squeezed Difference Form) with SQZ, DIF, and DUP compression characters that reduce file size by encoding differences between successive y-values.
JCAMP-DX covers all major spectroscopy types: FTIR, Raman, UV-Vis, NIR, NMR, and mass spectrometry. For a detailed comparison with other spectral formats, see our spectral file formats guide.
Works on Mac, Windows, Linux, and Chromebooks. No software to download. No Java required.
| Feature | SpectralBench | JSpecView | ConductScience |
|---|---|---|---|
| Browser-based | Yes | Java applet (deprecated) | Yes |
| File formats | 30+ (JCAMP, SPC, OPUS, ...) | JCAMP only | JCAMP, CSV |
| ASDF compression | Full support | Partial | Unknown |
| Peak detection | Yes | No | No |
| Format conversion | CSV, JSON, SPC, MATLAB | No | CSV only |
| Reference library | 50,000+ spectra | None | None |
| AI interpretation | Yes | No | No |
| Platform | Any browser, any OS | Java applet | Browser |
| Cost | Free | Free | Free |
| Last updated | Active development | ~2010 | Unknown |
4.24, 5.0, and 5.01 — including compound (multi-block) files.
XYDATA, XYPOINTS, PEAKTABLE, and DATATABLE blocks.
AFFN (plain ASCII), ASDF with SQZ (squeezed), DIF (difference), and DUP (duplicate) encoding.
TITLE, DATATYPE, XUNITS, YUNITS, CAS REGISTRY NO, MOLFORM, ORIGIN, OWNER, and more.
Need to convert between formats? Use our spectral file converter to export JCAMP-DX to CSV, JSON, SPC, or MATLAB — or convert proprietary formats into JCAMP-DX for archiving.
Drag your .jdx or .dx file onto the viewer above — or click to browse. The parser handles AFFN, ASDF, and all compression variants.
Interactive spectrum with metadata display. Zoom, detect peaks, inspect header fields, toggle absorbance/transmittance.
Convert to CSV, JSON, SPC, or MATLAB. Or convert proprietary formats to JCAMP-DX for archiving.
JCAMP-DX is a universal exchange format. SpectralBench also reads these proprietary formats directly:
JCAMP-DX is an IUPAC-endorsed open standard for spectroscopic data exchange. Files use the .jdx or .dx extension and store spectrum data as plain ASCII text, making them readable by any text editor and ideal for long-term archiving.
Drag and drop your .jdx or .dx file onto the viewer above, or click "Open your file" to browse. SpectralBench parses the file and renders an interactive spectrum within seconds. No software to install, no account to create.
Yes. Open your JCAMP-DX file in the full SpectralBench workbench and export to CSV, JSON, SPC, or MATLAB format. The conversion runs instantly — no software to install.
Yes. SpectralBench supports all major JCAMP-DX data encoding formats, including AFFN (plain numbers), ASDF (ASCII Squeezed Difference Form) with SQZ, DIF, and DUP compression characters, and XY point tables.
SpectralBench opens .jdx files for free in any modern browser — no install needed. Paid alternatives include Thermo Fisher OMNIC, Bruker OPUS, and OriginLab Origin. SpectralBench is the only free option that works on any operating system without software installation.
JCAMP refers to the Joint Committee on Atomic and Molecular Physical Data. JCAMP-DX is the specific data exchange format they created. In practice, the terms are used interchangeably to refer to the file format.
Yes. SpectralBench works on macOS, Windows, Linux, and Chromebooks — any device with a modern browser. No Java required, no plugins, no software downloads — just open the page and drop your file.
Open your SPC file in SpectralBench's file converter and export as JCAMP-DX. The conversion preserves metadata and runs instantly — no software to install.
They are the same format with different file extensions. Both contain JCAMP-DX formatted spectral data. SpectralBench reads both extensions identically.
Yes. The full SpectralBench workbench supports multi-spectrum overlay and comparison. Open multiple files to view them side by side or overlaid on the same chart.
Yes. JCAMP-DX is published and endorsed by IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) as a recommendation for spectroscopic data exchange. Unlike proprietary formats like Thermo SPC or Bruker OPUS, anyone can read and write JCAMP-DX files without a license.