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

AIF file extension

Audio Interchange File Format

Audio Files

ASF file extension

Advanced Systems Format File

Video Files

CUE file extension

Cue Sheet File

Disk Image Files

GPX file extension

GPS Exchange File

GIS Files

IBOOKS file extension

Multi-Touch iBook

Data Files

MDB file extension

Microsoft Access Database

Database Files

PRF file extension

Outlook Profile File

Settings Files

RPM file extension

Red Hat Package Manager File

Compressed Files

SAV file extension

Saved Game

Game Files

SQL file extension

Structured Query Language Data File

Database Files

SVG file extension

Scalable Vector Graphics File

Vector Image Files

TEX file extension

LaTeX Source Document

Text Files

WAV file extension

WAVE Audio File

Audio Files

XML file extension

XML File

Data Files

3DM file extension

Rhino 3D Model

3D Image Files