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

AZW file extension

Amazon Kindle eBook File

eBook Files

CRDOWNLOAD file extension

Chrome Partially Downloaded File

Misc Files

CUR file extension

Windows Cursor

System Files

EPUB file extension

Open eBook File

eBook Files

GIF file extension

Graphical Interchange Format File

Raster Image Files

ICS file extension

iCalendar File

Misc Files

INI file extension

Windows Initialization File

Settings Files

LUA file extension

Lua Source File

Developer Files

MIM file extension

Multi-Purpose Internet Mail Message File

Encoded Files

SRT file extension

SubRip Subtitle File

Video Files

TGA file extension

Targa Graphic

Raster Image Files

VCF file extension

vCard File

Data Files

WPD file extension

WordPerfect Document

Text Files

XML file extension

XML File

Data Files

ZIPX file extension

Extended Zip File

Compressed Files