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

CSS file extension

Cascading Style Sheet

Web Files

DNG file extension

Digital Negative Image File

Camera Raw Files

EPS file extension

Encapsulated PostScript File

Vector Image Files

GADGET file extension

Windows Gadget

Executable Files

JAVA file extension

Java Source Code File

Developer Files

MIM file extension

Multi-Purpose Internet Mail Message File

Encoded Files

MPG file extension

MPEG Video File

Video Files

PART file extension

Partially Downloaded File

Misc Files

PHP file extension

PHP Source Code File

Web Files

PSPIMAGE file extension

PaintShop Pro Image

Raster Image Files

SH file extension

Bash Shell Script

Developer Files

SQL file extension

Structured Query Language Data File

Database Files

SVG file extension

Scalable Vector Graphics File

Vector Image Files

VB file extension

VBScript File

Executable Files

WPD file extension

WordPerfect Document

Text Files