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

ASF file extension

Advanced Systems Format File

Video Files

DMP file extension

Windows Memory Dump

System Files

DOC# file extension

Microsoft Word Document

Text Files

EPS file extension

Encapsulated PostScript File

Vector Image Files

EPUB file extension

Open eBook File

eBook Files

GADGET file extension

Windows Gadget

Executable Files

ISO file extension

Disc Image File

Disk Image Files

MIM file extension

Multi-Purpose Internet Mail Message File

Encoded Files

MSI file extension

Windows Installer Package

Misc Files

PLUGIN file extension

Mac OS X Plug-in

Plugin Files

RPM file extension

Red Hat Package Manager File

Compressed Files

SAV file extension

Saved Game

Game Files

TIF file extension

Tagged Image File

Raster Image Files

VCXPROJ file extension

Visual C++ Project

Developer Files

3G2 file extension

3GPP2 Multimedia File

Video Files