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

APK file extension

Android Package File

Executable Files

ASX file extension

Microsoft ASF Redirector File

Video Files

COM file extension

DOS Command File

Executable Files

DWG file extension

AutoCAD Drawing Database File

CAD Files

DXF file extension

Drawing Exchange Format File

CAD Files

EXE file extension

Windows Executable File

Executable Files

IFF file extension

Interchange File Format

Audio Files

KMZ file extension

Google Earth Placemark File

GIS Files

M4A file extension

MPEG-4 Audio File

Audio Files

PL file extension

Perl Script

Developer Files

PSD file extension

Adobe Photoshop Document

Raster Image Files

SH file extension

Bash Shell Script

Developer Files

TGA file extension

Targa Graphic

Raster Image Files

TORRENT file extension

BitTorrent File

Misc Files

UUE file extension

Uuencoded File

Encoded Files