What is a BSON file?
BSON (Binary JSON) is a binary-encoded serialization format used primarily by MongoDB for storing documents and remote procedure calls. While conceptually similar to JSON, BSON extends the specification with data types not natively supported in JSON—such as 12-byte ObjectIds, 64-bit integers, raw binary byte arrays, and UTC timestamps.
Because BSON files are binary, they appear as unreadable binary characters when opened in standard text editors. EasyExtract parses the binary byte structure and converts it to valid RFC 8259 JSON and CSV.
How to convert BSON files to JSON and CSV
- Upload your BSON file. Drop a .bson file (such as a mongodump export) onto the drop zone above or select it from your device.
- Automatic binary decoding. The browser decodes BSON data types (ObjectIds, dates, 64-bit integers, subdocuments) into standard JavaScript objects in memory.
- Inspect extracted records. Preview the decoded JSON documents directly in the viewer with formatted indentation.
- Download JSON or CSV. Export the decoded dataset as a standard JSON array for REST APIs or a flattened CSV table for Excel analysis.
What data types are decoded?
- MongoDB ObjectIds — Converted to 24-character hexadecimal strings (e.g.
{"$oid": "..."}). - UTC DateTimes — Converted to ISO 8601 timestamp strings.
- 32-bit & 64-bit Integers — Parsed with full numerical precision.
- Nested Subdocuments & Arrays — Preserved in JSON and flattened using dot-notation in CSV.
Supported formats and specifications
Supports BSON Specification v1.1 files exported via mongodump, MongoDB Atlas backups, and custom BSON binary streams.
Privacy and database security
All binary parsing occurs 100% locally inside your browser tab using JavaScript DataView. Sensitive database records, customer PII, and financial schemas are never transmitted across the network.
Known limitations
Files up to 150 MB process smoothly in browser memory. For multi-gigabyte production database restores, native bsondump or mongorestore CLI utilities are recommended.
Common use cases
- MongoDB Backup Audits — Inspecting raw
mongodumpBSON files without running a local MongoDB server. - Data Migration & ETL — Converting BSON collections to relational CSV for Postgres or Snowflake loading.
- Application Debugging — Quick inspection of binary BSON payloads generated by Node.js or Python drivers.
BSON Extractor vs JSON Table Extractor
Use the BSON Extractor when handling binary .bson files from MongoDB. If you already have a plain text JSON file, use our JSON to CSV table extractor or NDJSON extractor.
Frequently asked questions
How do I open a .bson file without MongoDB installed?
Drop your .bson file into EasyExtract. The tool decodes the binary structure in your browser and displays the data as readable JSON and CSV instantly.
How are MongoDB ObjectIds handled in CSV export?
ObjectIds are extracted as their clean 24-character hex strings in the CSV column.
Can I convert BSON to Excel spreadsheet format?
Yes. Clicking 'Download CSV Table' flattens all BSON document attributes into columns ready to open in Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets.
Is it safe to decode private database backups here?
Yes. Processing happens 100% client-side in your local browser memory — zero data is ever uploaded to a server.
Does this tool require internet access after loading?
No. Once the web page is loaded, you can disconnect your internet completely and decode BSON files offline.