Question 1

What are PEM files?

Accepted Answer

PEM (Privacy Enhanced Mail) is a common format for storing and sending cryptographic keys, certificates, and other data. PEM files are Base64 encoded ASCII files, typically starting with `-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----` (or similar for keys, CSRs) and ending with `-----END CERTIFICATE-----`.

Question 2

Which file extensions does this viewer support for PEM-encoded data?

Accepted Answer

This viewer is intended for text-based PEM encoded files, commonly with extensions like `.pem`, `.crt` (certificates), `.cer` (certificates), `.key` (private or public keys).

Question 3

How do I use the View Any File PEM Viewer & Opener?

Accepted Answer

Click the "Open Local File" button to select a `.pem`, `.crt`, or `.key` file from your device. Its text content will be displayed.

Question 4

Does this tool validate or parse the cryptographic content?

Accepted Answer

No, this viewer only displays the raw text content of the PEM file. It does not validate the certificate chain, check key integrity, or parse the ASN.1 structure within the Base64 encoding. Specialized tools like OpenSSL are used for such operations.

Question 5

Is it safe to open private key files with this tool?

Accepted Answer

This tool processes files locally in your browser and does not upload them. However, private keys are extremely sensitive. You should always be cautious about where and how you open files containing private keys.

View Any File - PEM File Viewer

PEM File Viewer & Opener FAQs