<p>BCL (binary base call) files are the most raw data that you will likely get. As a matter of fact, the images taken by the machine each cycle are even more raw but it makes no sense to interact with this data directly. The base calls are derived from counting the spots (clusters) on the images.</p>
<p>For any useful application you would convert them to fastq (e.g. using illumina <code>bcl2fastq</code>).</p>
<p>What is the goal of your question? Do you suspect some problems with your data?<br />
Adding this information will make it easier to interpret what kind of answer you are looking for - and less likely that your question is downvoted.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-01T08:08:48.397Z
2021-06-01T08:08:48.397Z
PPK
<p>I wanted information regarding which format is considered the most raw from an illumina sequencer ? <Br></p>
<ol>
<li>fasta</li>
<li>fastq</li>
<li>bcl</li>
<li>bam <br>
As per my research it should be <strong>bcl</strong> but I am not sure.</li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-01T13:56:18.983Z
What do you mean by “raw”? None of the files you’ve listed are “raw” in any real sense. In fact, FASTQ and BCL are more or less equivalent, just stored in different ways. For the difference between FASTA, FASTQ and BAM, refer to https://bioinformatics.stackexchange.com/a/385/29.
Konrad Rudolph
<ngs><file-formats><illumina>
Which format is the most raw format
# Which format is the most raw format

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-05-31)

I wanted information regarding which format is considered the most raw from an illumina sequencer ?

1. fasta
2. fastq
3. bcl
4. bam   
   As per my research it should be **bcl** but I am not sure.

**Tags:** ngs, file-formats, illumina
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: What do you mean by “raw”? None of the files you’ve listed are “raw” in any real sense. In fact, FASTQ and BCL are more or less equivalent, just stored in different ways. For the difference between FASTA, FASTQ and BAM, refer to https://bioinformatics.stackexchange.com/a/385/29.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2021-06-01. Score: 1

BCL (binary base call) files are the most raw data that you will likely get. As a matter of fact, the images taken by the machine each cycle are even more raw but it makes no sense to interact with this data directly. The base calls are derived from counting the spots (clusters) on the images.

For any useful application you would convert them to fastq (e.g. using illumina `bcl2fastq`).

What is the goal of your question? Do you suspect some problems with your data?  
Adding this information will make it easier to interpret what kind of answer you are looking for - and less likely that your question is downvoted.


---

