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

TIF file extension

Tagged Image File

Raster Image Files

FLA file extension

Adobe Flash Animation

Developer Files

CSV file extension

Comma Separated Values File

Data Files

ROM file extension

N64 Game ROM File

Game Files

CAB file extension

Windows Cabinet File

System Files

7Z file extension

7-Zip Compressed File

Compressed Files

PDB file extension

Program Database

Database Files

EPS file extension

Encapsulated PostScript File

Vector Image Files

RPM file extension

Red Hat Package Manager File

Compressed Files

RA file extension

Real Audio File

Audio Files

RAR file extension

WinRAR Compressed Archive

Compressed Files

JAR file extension

Java Archive File

Executable Files

PPT file extension

PowerPoint Presentation

Data Files

FON file extension

Generic Font File

Font Files

CUR file extension

Windows Cursor

System Files