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

CSV file extension

Comma Separated Values File

Data Files

DESKTHEMEPACK file extension

Windows 8 Desktop Theme Pack File

System Files

EPS file extension

Encapsulated PostScript File

Vector Image Files

LUA file extension

Lua Source File

Developer Files

MDB file extension

Microsoft Access Database

Database Files

PNG file extension

Portable Network Graphic

Raster Image Files

SAV file extension

Saved Game

Game Files

SH file extension

Bash Shell Script

Developer Files

SYS file extension

Windows System File

System Files

TMP file extension

Temporary File

Backup Files

VCXPROJ file extension

Visual C++ Project

Developer Files

WAV file extension

WAVE Audio File

Audio Files

WPD file extension

WordPerfect Document

Text Files

XCODEPROJ file extension

Xcode Project

Developer Files

3DS file extension

3D Studio Scene

3D Image Files