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

CFM file extension

ColdFusion Markup File

Web Files

CPP file extension

C++ Source Code File

Developer Files

CRDOWNLOAD file extension

Chrome Partially Downloaded File

Misc Files

DTD file extension

Document Type Definition File

Developer Files

DWG file extension

AutoCAD Drawing Database File

CAD Files

HTM file extension

Hypertext Markup Language File

Web Files

JAVA file extension

Java Source Code File

Developer Files

RM file extension

Real Media File

Video Files

SAV file extension

Saved Game

Game Files

SQL file extension

Structured Query Language Data File

Database Files

TEX file extension

LaTeX Source Document

Text Files

YUV file extension

YUV Encoded Image File

Raster Image Files

ZIP file extension

Zipped File

Compressed Files

ZIPX file extension

Extended Zip File

Compressed Files