Oracle dump (.dmp) file format

Question

I am wondering about how is the internal format of a .dmp file (dump file, or backup and restoration file) used by Oracle RBMS.

Does it follow any standard? Is it optimized in any way?

Thanks.

Edited:

Oracle version: 11g

Answer 1

Does it follow any standard.

Yes - the one that Oracle defined for their export format.

It it optimized in any way

You can compress the data, if that's what you mean.
See the manual for details: http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E11882_01/server.112/e22490/dp_export.htm#BABCAJHC

Answer 2

First of all, there are two different formats

Although Data Pump Export (expdp) functionality is similar to that of the original Export utility (exp), they are completely separate utilities and their files are not compatible.

Does it follow any standard? : The file format is proprietary. I did not find any rogue documentation on the format online...

The dump file set is made up of one or more disk files that contain table data, database object metadata, and control information. The files are written in a proprietary, binary format.

Is it optimized?
Answered by a_horse_with_no_name.

Source: https://docs.oracle.com/html/B28319_02/dp_export.htm