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

AI file extension

Adobe Illustrator File

Vector Image Files

BMP file extension

Bitmap Image File

Raster Image Files

GED file extension

GEDCOM Genealogy Data File

Data Files

KMZ file extension

Google Earth Placemark File

GIS Files

OTF file extension

OpenType Font

Font Files

PNG file extension

Portable Network Graphic

Raster Image Files

PSPIMAGE file extension

PaintShop Pro Image

Raster Image Files

RA file extension

Real Audio File

Audio Files

RPM file extension

Red Hat Package Manager File

Compressed Files

SH file extension

Bash Shell Script

Developer Files

SWF file extension

Shockwave Flash Movie

Video Files

SYS file extension

Windows System File

System Files

TEX file extension

LaTeX Source Document

Text Files

VCXPROJ file extension

Visual C++ Project

Developer Files

WSF file extension

Windows Script File

Executable Files