FlatBuffers is a free software library implementing a serialization format similar to Protocol Buffers, Thrift, Apache Avro, SBE, and Cap'n Proto, primarily written by Wouter van Oortmerssen and open-sourced by Google. It supports “zero-copy” deserialization, so that accessing the serialized data does not require first copying it into a separate part of memory. This makes accessing data in these formats much faster than data in formats requiring more extensive processing, such as JSON, CSV, and in many cases Protocol Buffers. Compared to other serialization formats however, the handling of FlatBuffers usually requires more code, and some operations are not possible (like some mutation operations).
The serialized format allows random access to specific data elements (e.g. individual string or integer properties) without parsing all data. Unlike Protocol Buffers, which uses variable-length integers, FlatBuffers encodes integers in their native size, which favors performance but leads to longer encoded representations.
What is flatbuffers?
flatbuffers is an open-source languages & sdk program for Windows from Google, Inc (developed by Wouter van Oortmerssen). It is written in C++. Besides Windows, it is available for cross-platform.
Installation and requirements
Official installers exist for 64-bit as Portable. It runs without installation (portable).
Updates and version history
The current version is 25.12.19, released on December 19, 2025. 2 versions are listed since February 11, 2025, each with links to its own installer files.
Popularity and file types
The Chocolatey package has been downloaded 22,263 times. The source code on GitHub (google/flatbuffers) has 26,570 stars. On Windows it registers 1 file type, including .fbs. Similar programs include Go Programming Language, LLVM and Deno.
Project description on GitHub: “FlatBuffers: Memory Efficient Serialization Library”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Portable: runs without installation
- Also runs on cross-platform
- Large user base
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
In short: flatbuffers is an open-source languages & sdk tool for 64-bit PCs.
Is flatbuffers safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
FFF9445C9DB907227BC64B54CC98743084C4949282AA4E576CFF6A955724DDC8· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Security practices (OpenSSF Scorecard)
Automated checks of the google/flatbuffers repository on GitHub by the Open Source Security Foundation, last run on October 19, 2026.
- No dangerous workflows10
- Security policy10
- Licence declared10
- Fuzzing10
- Code review9
- No binaries in the repository8
- Branch protection8
- Signed releases2
- Actively maintained1
- Restricted token permissions0
- OpenSSF Best Practices badge0
- Pinned dependencies0
- Static code analysis0
The score rates how the project is developed and released, not whether the program is safe to install. scorecard.dev
Recent versions
All 2 versions ›| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25.12.19Latest | December 19, 2025 | — | 64-bit ZIP |
| v25.2.10 | February 11, 2025 | — | 64-bit ZIP |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id Google.flatbuffers -echoco install flatc -yRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- Google, Inc
- Developer
- Wouter van Oortmerssen
- Category
- Languages & SDKs
- Licence
- Apache-2.0
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/google/flatbuffers
- Written in
- C++
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit
- Installer
- Portable
- Other platforms
- cross-platform
- Version
- 25.12.19
- Released
- December 19, 2025
- Added to the catalogue
- July 24, 2025
- Versions listed
- 2
- Chocolatey downloads
- 22,263
- GitHub stars
- 26,570
- GitHub forks
- 3,711
- Website
- flatbuffers.dev
- winget ID
- Google.flatbuffers
- Chocolatey package
- flatc
File types it opens (1)
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Alternatives to flatbuffers
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Frequently asked questions
Is flatbuffers free?
Yes. flatbuffers is open-source software under the Apache-2.0 licence.
Is flatbuffers safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install flatbuffers with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Does flatbuffers run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of flatbuffers?
The versions page lists all 2 versions with links to their official installer files, back to February 11, 2025.
Can I use flatbuffers without administrator rights?
Yes, it is portable: unpack and run it.
What are alternatives to flatbuffers?
Go Programming Language, LLVM, Deno, CMake and Yarn. The alternatives page compares them.
