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

RPM file extension

Red Hat Package Manager File

Compressed Files

DXF file extension

Drawing Exchange Format File

CAD Files

TAR file extension

Consolidated Unix File Archive

Data Files

LUA file extension

Lua Source File

Developer Files

7Z file extension

7-Zip Compressed File

Compressed Files

SH file extension

Bash Shell Script

Developer Files

OBJ file extension

Wavefront 3D Object File

3D Image Files

DBF file extension

Database File

Database Files

SAV file extension

Saved Game

Game Files

DTD file extension

Document Type Definition File

Developer Files

ICO file extension

Icon File

System Files

WPD file extension

WordPerfect Document

Text Files

TORRENT file extension

BitTorrent File

Misc Files

ASP file extension

Active Server Page

Web Files

ASF file extension

Advanced Systems Format File

Video Files