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

ASPX file extension

Active Server Page Extended File

Web Files

CUE file extension

Cue Sheet File

Disk Image Files

EXE file extension

Windows Executable File

Executable Files

ICO file extension

Icon File

System Files

JAR file extension

Java Archive File

Executable Files

MIM file extension

Multi-Purpose Internet Mail Message File

Encoded Files

ROM file extension

N64 Game ROM File

Game Files

SH file extension

Bash Shell Script

Developer Files

SQL file extension

Structured Query Language Data File

Database Files

TEX file extension

LaTeX Source Document

Text Files

TGA file extension

Targa Graphic

Raster Image Files

TOAST file extension

Toast Disc Image

Disk Image Files

WAV file extension

WAVE Audio File

Audio Files

WPS file extension

Microsoft Works Word Processor Document

Text Files

XCODEPROJ file extension

Xcode Project

Developer Files