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

BIN file extension

Binary Disc Image

Disk Image Files

DB file extension

Database File

Database Files

GPX file extension

GPS Exchange File

GIS Files

MID file extension

MIDI File

Audio Files

NES file extension

Nintendo (NES) ROM File

Game Files

RA file extension

Real Audio File

Audio Files

RM file extension

Real Media File

Video Files

SDF file extension

Standard Data File

Data Files

TAR file extension

Consolidated Unix File Archive

Data Files

TGA file extension

Targa Graphic

Raster Image Files

TIF file extension

Tagged Image File

Raster Image Files

WMV file extension

Windows Media Video File

Video Files

WPS file extension

Microsoft Works Word Processor Document

Text Files

XCODEPROJ file extension

Xcode Project

Developer Files

ZIP file extension

Zipped File

Compressed Files