Why are an integers bytes stored backwards? Does this apply to headers only?

Question

I\'m currently trying to decipher WAV files. From headers to the PCM data.

I\'ve found a PDF (http://www.tdt.com/T2Support/technical_notes/tn0132.pdf) detailing the

Answer 1

WAV files are little-endian (least significant bytes first) because the format originated for operating systems running on intel processor based machines which use the little endian format to store numbers.

If you think about it kind of makes sense because if you want to cast a long integer to a short one or even a character the starting address remains the same you just look at less bytes.

Consequently, for 16 bit encoding upwards, little-endian format will be used for the PCM as well. This is quite handy since you will be able to pull them in as integers. don't forget they will be stored as two's complement signed integers if they are 16 bit, but not if they are 8 bit. (see http://www-mmsp.ece.mcgill.ca/Documents/AudioFormats/WAVE/WAVE.html for more detail)

Answer 2

"Backwards" is subjective. Some machines are big-endian, others are little-endian. In byte-oriented contexts like file formats and network protocols, the order is arbitrary. Some formats like to specify big- or little-endian, others like to be flexible and accept either form, with a flag indicating which is in use.

Looks like WAV files just like little-endian.