File extensions – definition and basic information


File extensions are the integral parts of the files that are on each computer. Often, when working on a computer, we encounter a wide range of files, such as docx, ppt, part, mp3 or rmvb. We realize that they are there – but we often do not know what they are for on our computer.

File extension, also known as the filename extension is a suffix added to the name of a computer file, usually consisting of a number of characters placed after the last dot in the filename, which gives us information about its coding. In other words a file extension is a file format. It allows the operating system (e.g. Windows) to recognize what program it should try to open the file.

In the table below you will find a random selection of popular file extensions.


File extension The full name of the file Category

ACCDB file extension

Access 2007 Database File

Database Files

C file extension

C/C++ Source Code File

Developer Files

CPL file extension

Windows Control Panel Item

System Files

CRX file extension

Chrome Extension

Plugin Files

DEB file extension

Debian Software Package

Compressed Files

DESKTHEMEPACK file extension

Windows 8 Desktop Theme Pack File

System Files

DOC# file extension

Microsoft Word Document

Text Files

DRV file extension

Device Driver

System Files

EPS file extension

Encapsulated PostScript File

Vector Image Files

GBR file extension

Gerber File

Data Files

H file extension

C/C++/Objective-C Header File

Developer Files

PDF file extension

Portable Document Format File

Layout Files

TIF file extension

Tagged Image File

Raster Image Files

TOAST file extension

Toast Disc Image

Disk Image Files

WPS file extension

Microsoft Works Word Processor Document

Text Files