RAW files contain unprocessed sensor data captured directly from digital cameras. Unlike common formats like JPEG, they lack embedded processing for brightness, contrast, and color rendition. This means they aren't finished images viewable by standard applications expecting a fully rendered picture format.

Professional photographers primarily use RAW with dedicated editing software. Examples include Adobe Lightroom/Photoshop (Camera Raw plugin) and brand-specific tools like Canon's Digital Photo Professional. These programs decode the RAW data and allow photographers to apply their own adjustments to exposure, white balance, and detail before exporting a final JPEG or TIFF.

While RAW offers maximum flexibility and image quality for editing, a key limitation is its dependence on specialized software. This requirement hinders casual viewing across all devices. Manufacturers and software developers continually update their decoders for new camera models, but this lag can temporarily prevent users from accessing the latest RAW files in older software. Most photographers accept this trade-off for the superior editing control RAW provides.