What is the format of Intel Hexadecimal files (.hex)?

The format for this file is: 
                                                                           
First character (:)  =  Start of a record                                     
Next two characters  =  Record length (in this example, 10h)                  
Next four characters =  Load address (in this example, 0080h)                 
Next two characters  =  Record type (see below)                               
Remaining characters =  Actual data                                           
Last two characters  =  Checksum (i.e., sum of all bytes checksum = 00)     

The last line of the file is special, and always looks like the last line shown above. HEX record types are shown below: 
                                                                      
00 = Data record                                                              
01 = End of file record                                                       
02 = Extended segment address record                                          
03 = Start segment address record                                             
04 = Extended linear address record                                           
05 = Start linear address record