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

DBF file extension

Database File

Database Files

GAM file extension

Saved Game File

Game Files

JSP file extension

Java Server Page

Web Files

LUA file extension

Lua Source File

Developer Files

M4A file extension

MPEG-4 Audio File

Audio Files

MAX file extension

3ds Max Scene File

3D Image Files

PPS file extension

PowerPoint Slide Show

Data Files

PRF file extension

Outlook Profile File

Settings Files

PS file extension

PostScript File

Vector Image Files

PY file extension

Python Script

Developer Files

RAR file extension

WinRAR Compressed Archive

Compressed Files

SH file extension

Bash Shell Script

Developer Files

SQL file extension

Structured Query Language Data File

Database Files

XLSX file extension

Microsoft Excel Open XML Spreadsheet

Spreadsheet Files

ZIP file extension

Zipped File

Compressed Files