What is IDL? IDL, short name for Interface Definition Language, is used as the file extension for Interface Definition Language files. .IDL files are text files that are used to describe software components interfaces. See the sample .IDL file included below.

File Extension: .IDL

MIME Type: text/plain

File Content: Interface Definition Language

.IDL files are Interface Definition Language files, that are used to describe software components interfaces. Here is a sample .IDL Interface Definition Language file, orb.idl:

/*
 * Copyright (c) 1999, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
 * ORACLE PROPRIETARY/CONFIDENTIAL. Use is subject to license terms.
 */

// IDL not generated by rmic, do not edit
// These are all in IDL module CORBA
// The Java classes are in the package org.omg.CORBA
// See ValueType Semantics:Standard Value Box Definitions (5.3) in CORBA 2.3 spec

#ifndef __org_omg_CORBA__
#define __org_omg_CORBA__

#pragma prefix "omg.org"

module CORBA{

    valuetype StringValue string;
    valuetype WStringValue wstring;

};

#include "ir.idl"

#pragma prefix ""

#endif

.IDL Interface Definition Language file sample: Click sample.idl to download.

Since .IDL files are in text format, you can use Notepad or any text editor to create or modify them. No special software is needed.

For for information on how to use .IDL Interface Definition Language files, see links below:

• OMG IDL: Details