GTA V File Formats: YFT, YTD, YDR, YBN, YDD, YMAP
GTA V uses a Y-prefixed family of binary formats for game assets. Here is what each one stores, sourced from public modding documentation.
If you have looked inside a GTA V install or a FiveM resource, you have seen file extensions starting with Y - YFT, YTD, YDR, YBN, YMAP, YDD, YCD, YTYP. These are all binary formats Rockstar uses for different kinds of game assets. The Y prefix is internal Rockstar convention. Here is what each format stores, per public modding documentation.
YFT - Fragment
From the GTA5-Mods documentation: "YFT is a 3D model file format used for in-game models such as peds, vehicles, weapons, and props. YFT files define interactive or dynamic objects, such as vehicles or doors, and include mesh data with collision data, bounds, and physics."
The "fragment" name refers to the format's support for breaking apart - when a vehicle gets damaged and parts visibly fall off, that is the fragment system reading the YFT's break definitions. Vehicles are always YFT.
YTD - Texture Dictionary
"YTD is a texture file format used for in-game textures such as skins, logos, and decals. This file contains the textures for the model, although textures can also be embedded with the 3D model itself."
YTD is essentially a packed archive of DDS textures, indexed by name. Each YTD ships with a corresponding model (YFT or YDR/YDD) - the model references texture names that get resolved against the YTD.
YDR - Drawable
"YDR is a single drawable object (3D model) file, whereas YDD can contain many drawables in one single file. YDR files are similar to YFT but for non-fragmentable objects - world props (street lights, benches, signs), character models, clothing, weapons, and static world objects. They're simpler than YFT because they don't need damage and fragmentation data."
YDD - Drawable Dictionary
YDD is the "many YDRs in one file" format. Used for things like clothing kits where multiple drawable variants ship together. From the GTA5-Mods reference: a YDR is a single drawable; a YDD is a dictionary of multiple drawables.
YBN - Bounds (Collision)
"YBN is a bounds file, more commonly referred to as collisions or static collisions. These are used, as an example, to keep you from falling through the floor of an interior. YBNs are used for buildings and general environment."
YBN is what GTA V uses for static world collision. Vehicles have their collision embedded in their YFT instead.
YMAP - Map Placement
YMAP files describe where objects are placed in the world - their position, rotation, scale, and which YDR/YDD/YFT to instantiate at that location. A custom map mod is mostly YMAP files plus the YDR/YBN assets they reference.
YCD - Clip Dictionary
YCD holds animation clips. The "clip" terminology is Rockstar's name for animation segments. YCD ships in vehicles for things like wheel spin and door open animations, and in pedestrian models for walk cycles, idle animations, etc.
YTYP - Type
YTYP defines entity types - which YDR/YDD/YFT files exist, what their LOD distances are, what physics archetype they use. Required reading material for the engine before it can instantiate objects from those drawables.
RPF - Rage Package File
RPF is the archive format that contains everything else. GTA V's main game data ships in x64a.rpf through x64w.rpf plus additional patch RPFs. Inside an RPF you have YFTs, YTDs, YBNs, etc. OpenIV is the main tool for opening RPF archives.
FiveM resources do not use RPF for streamed assets - they ship the YFT/YTD/YBN files raw inside the resource's stream/ folder. RPF is only relevant when working with the stock GTA V game files directly.
How they connect for a vehicle
A custom vehicle in FiveM ships as:
carname.yft- the LOD1-L4 mesh + collision + fragment datacarname_hi.yft- the L0 (highest LOD) meshcarname.ytd- all the textures for the car
The YFT references texture names; those names resolve against the YTD. The vehicles.meta file ties this all together by referencing the model name (which matches the .yft filename).
Sources
Browse the lot
Drag, drop, drive. Lore-friendly originals and curated real-vehicle conversions for FiveM.