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

ASP file extension

Active Server Page

Web Files

AVI file extension

Audio Video Interleave File

Video Files

BMP file extension

Bitmap Image File

Raster Image Files

CRX file extension

Chrome Extension

Plugin Files

DB file extension

Database File

Database Files

EXE file extension

Windows Executable File

Executable Files

GAM file extension

Saved Game File

Game Files

GBR file extension

Gerber File

Data Files

ICNS file extension

Mac OS X Icon Resource File

System Files

PART file extension

Partially Downloaded File

Misc Files

RAR file extension

WinRAR Compressed Archive

Compressed Files

SAV file extension

Saved Game

Game Files

SRT file extension

SubRip Subtitle File

Video Files

TGA file extension

Targa Graphic

Raster Image Files

UUE file extension

Uuencoded File

Encoded Files