---
id: dbfread
version: "2.0.7"
license: MIT
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: abandoned
---

# dbfread — Read DBF Files with Python

License: permissive · Maintenance: abandoned · Downloads: 2.3M/mo

## What it is and what it does

dbfread is a pure-Python library for reading DBF files—the legacy database format used by dBase, Visual FoxPro, and similar systems. It parses DBF records and returns them as ordered dictionaries or custom types, with support for 18 field types and memo files (FPT and DBT). Records can be streamed directly from disk or loaded into memory for random access, making it suitable for batch jobs and one-off data migration scripts.

The package has no external dependencies and installs easily. However, it has been abandoned since 2016-11-25, with no maintenance or bug fixes. While it may still work for straightforward DBF reading tasks, there is no active support for emerging issues or modern Python versions.

Use it for:

- Migrate legacy dBase or Visual FoxPro data to modern databases or formats in batch scripts.
- Extract and parse DBF files from archived systems or legacy business applications.
- Read memo fields (FPT, DBT) alongside structured DBF records for data recovery or analysis.
- Prototype quick data import tools when DBF is the only available source format.

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

Reads DBF database files (dBase, Visual FoxPro, FoxBase+) and returns records as native Python data types, supporting both streaming and in-memory access.

Yes, but only for legacy data recovery or one-off batch jobs where DBF is the source format and you accept the risk of an unmaintained package. The lack of dependencies and simple API make it low-friction to try. Do not use for production systems or new projects; consider alternatives if you need active maintenance or handling of edge cases discovered since 2016.

## Install

pip install dbfread
uv add dbfread
poetry add dbfread

## Installing dbfread

Before you install: Pure Python with no runtime dependencies and installs as a wheel with low friction. However, the package is abandoned—last release was 2016-11-25. No active maintenance or security updates.

License in practice: MIT license is permissive and imposes no restrictions on use, modification, or distribution in commercial or private projects.

Quickstart:

pip install dbfread

from dbfread import DBF
for record in DBF('people.dbf'):
    print(record)

Verify before relying:

- Whether the package handles all DBF variants reliably in practice beyond Visual FoxPro, which is noted as the primary test target.
- Current compatibility with modern Python versions beyond the stated 3.2 and 2.7 support from 2016.
- Whether memo file support (FPT and DBT) covers all real-world use cases encountered since the last release.

## Package facts

- License: MIT (permissive)
- Python support: unspecified
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: abandoned
- Downloads: 2.3M/month (top 5,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

read dbf files python, dbase foxpro parser, dbf to python records, legacy database file reader, dbf file parsing, dbase format import, legacy-format, data-migration

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