---
name: "hid-decode"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "hid-tools"
version: "0.12-2"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/hid-decode"
---

# hid-decode(1)

### NAME

hid-decode - HID input device report descriptor decoder

### SYNOPSIS

**hid-decode** *report-descriptor.bin*

**hid-decode** */dev/hidraw0*

**hid-decode** */dev/input/event0*

**hid-decode** *hid-recording*

### DESCRIPTION

**hid-decode** decodes one or more HID report descriptors into into human-readable format. It supports a variety of inputs:

- •

  a binary format as exported in sysfs, e.g. */sys/class/input/event0/device/device/report\_descriptor*

- •

  the format exported by **[hid-recorder(1)](/hid-recorder/1.md)**

- •

  a */dev/hidraw* node

- •

  a */dev/input/event* node

The format is deduced based on the input arguments. Undetected formats are assumed to be binary files.

Accessing a */dev/hidraw/* node usually requires root permissions.

### EXIT CODE

**hid-decode** returns 1 on error.

### SEE ALSO

[hid-recorder(1)](/hid-recorder/1.md)

### COPYRIGHT

Copyright 2018, Red Hat, Inc.

### AUTHOR

Peter Hutterer ⟨peter.hutterer@redhat.com⟩\\c