INI

INI is a simple, text-based, and human-readable format for storing information. In fangames, they are generally used as a method of storing save data, but save data stored in this way can be easily edited unless encrypted. They are more suited to storing game settings, as it can be more convenient to change those outside of the game.

Information in INI files is stored in a group-item-value format as follows:

[group]
item = value
item2 = "string"

Quotes for strings are optional.

Multiple groups can be used, but they must use different names; also, a given group cannot contain two items of the same name.

INI files should be small, and in fact Windows places a 64KB limit on their size, unless a program is manually written to parse larger ones. The INI++ extension in MMF2 allows for nesting groups and a few other features INIs normally are not able to use, but INIs generated in this way are non-standard and may not load as intended when used in other programs.

XML offers the same functionality as INI, and is also plaintext. In addition, it expands in some areas and supports nesting of information.