But what exactly is an IFC file? What is it used for? How is it structured, and how can it be viewed?<\/p>\n
In this article, you\u2019ll find clear answers to these questions, along with practical insights to help you understand how IFC can support your day-to-day work. You\u2019ll also learn how to view and manage IFC files using\u00a0a free online BIM viewer<\/a>.<\/p>\n IFC Industry Foundation Classes logo<\/p><\/div>\n The IFC file<\/strong> is an open<\/strong>, non-proprietary<\/strong> file format, international standard ISO 16739<\/strong>, and can be used to exchange and share data during the design, construction, management, and maintenance phases among all parties and various applications developed by different software houses without the necessity for them to support native (proprietary) files.<\/p>\n However, IFC is not just an exchange format, but a schema<\/strong>, meaning an organized structure of data according to precise rules: the IFC schema can be thought of as a “storage system<\/strong>” for organizing and transporting digital data.<\/p>\n How to open IFC files<\/a> directly from the browser.<\/p>\n Although people commonly refer to “IFC file” in the singular, the standard by buildingSmart International<\/a> includes several variations of the format to meet specific interoperability, storage, and data exchange needs. Understanding the difference between the extensions is not merely an academic exercise, but a practical necessity to optimize workflows and the management of informational content.<\/p>\n The official formats published on the site are:<\/p>\n If you want to know what the other BIM formats are, I recommend reading the article “BIM Files: the main BIM formats for design<\/a>.”<\/p>\n Interoperability in a closed and open system<\/p><\/div>\n In the BIM landscape, the version of the IFC schema defines the “rules of the game”: it establishes which objects can be exchanged, which properties they can possess, and how these must be related to each other. It is not just about software updates, but about genuine evolutionary leaps in the digitalization of construction.<\/p>\n The IFC schema is the standardized dictionary and logical framework that defines how information should be structured within a file. Based on the EXPRESS data modeling language, it organizes data in a strict hierarchy (classes, attributes, and relationships). Without a shared schema, software would not be able to interpret whether a certain geometric solid represents a column, a beam, or a pipe, nor correctly read its thermal or structural properties.<\/p>\n Released in 2003, the IFC2x3 version is still the most widely used globally due to its stability and software consolidation.<\/p>\n It introduced the concept of Model View Definition (MVD) to coordinate the exchange between architects and structural engineers (Coordination View), although it has gaps in managing complex geometries (curved surfaces), limited flexibility in defining custom property sets, and virtually no coverage regarding civil infrastructures.<\/p>\n Certified as the ISO 16739:2013<\/strong> standard, the IFC4 version represents a fundamental leap in quality.<\/p>\n It introduced support for more efficient and complex geometries, improved documentation, and a reduction in data ambiguities. It includes new classes for energy efficiency and support for environmental design workflows. It was designed to be more “lightweight” and to facilitate integration with modern web technologies.<\/p>\n IFC4.3 is the current frontier of Open BIM, finally extending the standard to the world of infrastructures (BIM Infrastructure).<\/p>\n It includes specific definitions for roads, railways, bridges, ports, and waterways. In addition, it enables the management of the lifecycle of complex linear works, harmonizing the civil engineering sector with the building sector, which until a few years ago operated on separate technological tracks.<\/p>\n Representation of elements organized according to the IFC schema<\/p><\/div>\n The choice of IFC format and version should not be regarded as merely a technical decision or a software automatism, but rather a strategic choice that directly affects the fluidity of collaboration. Each phase of the lifecycle of a project indeed requires a specific level of detail and data structure: knowing how to select the correct file is the only way to avoid precious information loss during transitions between different professionals.<\/p>\n In the early stages of design, the heart of the activity lies in the continuous exchange between different authoring software, for example, when the architectural model needs to be integrated with the structural model. In this context, the text-based .ifc standard format remains the preferred choice for its universality. However, the true difference is made by the version of the schema: if the work team has up-to-date software, the adoption of IFC4 is strongly recommended. This version indeed allows for the management of complex geometries and curved surfaces with millimeter precision, drastically reducing the graphical approximations often encountered during import into different environments.<\/p>\n When the project enters the heart of multidisciplinary coordination, the priority shifts to the ability to manage large amounts of data. Overlapping architectural, structural, and system models to identify spatial interferences makes file lightweightness critical. In these situations, the .ifczip format proves to be the most efficient tool, allowing the movement of complex federated models without saturating hardware resources. Many BIM coordinators still prefer to rely on the IFC2x3 schema at this stage, as its established stability ensures superior processing speed in model checking software and near-total compatibility with every validation tool available on the market.<\/p>\n In the transition from the 3D model to budgeting, geometry gives way to alphanumeric data and quantities. Here, the IFCXML format can offer significant advantages, especially when the quantification software needs to communicate with external price databases or corporate management systems. The “tag” structure typical of XML facilitates massive data extraction, provided that the professional has correctly configured the Property Set (Pset) within the model. The ultimate goal is to transform every geometric entity into a certified cost item, effectively eliminating the human error typically associated with manual measurements on two-dimensional drawings.<\/p>\n With the completion of the construction site, the IFC model must evolve to become a dynamic database of the completed work, the so-called As-Built. At this advanced stage, the use of formats such as .ttl or .rdf opens revolutionary scenarios. Thanks to the ifcOWL ontology, the BIM model ceases to be a static file and becomes a node within a network of interconnected data. This allows for connecting every component of the building to IoT sensors, monitoring energy performance or the wear state of systems in real-time. Thus, we move from a simple informational model to a true Digital Twin, capable of communicating with the web and providing predictive maintenance information.<\/p>\n To open an IFC file<\/a>, you can follow two procedures:<\/p>\n Now I will explain how to do this using an online viewer. You do not need to download any application, just:<\/p>\n The IFC format allows the production of files that include:<\/p>\n The structure of an IFC file is based on 3 fundamental elements:<\/p>\n IFC data schema composition diagram<\/p><\/div>\n A BIM model<\/strong> is a model made up of specific parametric entities<\/strong> that have relationships with each other and whose technical characteristics are described through properties. It is therefore natural that the pillars of the structure of the standard refer to these concepts.<\/p>\n To delve deeper into this subject, I recommend reading the following articles:<\/p>\n MVDs<\/strong> represent subsets of the IFC schema defined by buildingSMART International<\/strong> that group together certain information useful for specific workflows or uses.<\/p>\n These “filtered views<\/strong>” are very useful as they simplify the data exchange process and avoid the sharing of unnecessary or redundant information, following standardized procedures.<\/p>\n The following image shows a diagram that conveys the completeness of the IFC schema and how a specific MVD can streamline it according to the information useful for a particular purpose.<\/p>\n IFC schema and MVD variation<\/p><\/div>\n As can be seen from the previous image, the MVD is a filtered view that captures a part of the information from the entire schema or a portion of it.<\/p>\n Therefore, the function of the MVD does not depend on the many software available on the market, but on the information that one wants to share.<\/p>\n This is the result of a specific need, namely to transfer the necessary information for a particular situation, facilitating the exchange between software available internationally.<\/p>\n Read the article “Model View Definition (MVD) and BIM Data Exchange<\/a>” and learn more about this topic.<\/p>\n The classification system is a method of grouping and coding that makes it possible to organize entities.<\/p>\n There are different types of classifications, with various ways of dividing into categories.<\/p>\n Among these, we mention:<\/p>\n To learn everything about classification systems in construction, I suggest the article “IFC and Classification Systems in the Construction Sector<\/a>.”<\/p>\n Before concluding, here are two practical tips that address the most common needs of technicians: opening an IFC file and converting a DWG file to IFC.<\/p>\n![\"logo](\"https:\/\/biblus.accasoftware.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/01\/logo-IFC-originale.jpg\"){kind=logo}
What is an IFC file?<\/h2>\n
IFC file format: explanation of formats and extensions<\/h3>\n
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IFC Schema Versions: IFC2x3, IFC4 and Beyond<\/h2>\n
What is an IFC schema?<\/h3>\n
IFC2x3: features and limitations<\/h3>\n
IFC4: improvements and new features<\/h3>\n
IFC4.3: infrastructures and advanced use cases<\/h3>\n
![\"what](\"https:\/\/biblus.accasoftware.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/what-is-ifc.jpg\")
When to Use Different Types of IFC Files in BIM Projects<\/h2>\n
File Exchange Between BIM Authoring Software<\/h3>\n
Coordination and Clash Detection<\/h3>\n
From Model to Estimate: Quantitative Analysis and Cost Estimation<\/h3>\n
The Future of Management: Facility Management and Digital Twin<\/h3>\n
How to open an IFC file<\/h2>\n
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IFC file structure: what does an IFC file contain?<\/h2>\n
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IfcObjectDefinition<\/code>: the entities (objects);<\/li>\nIfcRelationship<\/code>: the relationships between the entities;<\/li>\nIfcPropertyDefinition<\/code>: the properties associated with the entities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n![\"ISO](\"https:\/\/biblus.accasoftware.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/07\/IFC-basic-schema.jpg\")
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Model View Definition and BIM<\/h3>\n
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Classification Systems in the Construction Sector<\/h3>\n
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IFC File: whitepaper<\/em> to Download<\/h2>\n
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