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

C file extension

C/C++ Source Code File

Developer Files

CRDOWNLOAD file extension

Chrome Partially Downloaded File

Misc Files

GADGET file extension

Windows Gadget

Executable Files

ICS file extension

iCalendar File

Misc Files

LUA file extension

Lua Source File

Developer Files

M file extension

Objective-C Implementation File

Developer Files

M3U file extension

Media Playlist File

Audio Files

PPT file extension

PowerPoint Presentation

Data Files

SRT file extension

SubRip Subtitle File

Video Files

TGA file extension

Targa Graphic

Raster Image Files

VB file extension

VBScript File

Executable Files

WMA file extension

Windows Media Audio File

Audio Files

WMV file extension

Windows Media Video File

Video Files

XCODEPROJ file extension

Xcode Project

Developer Files

ZIP file extension

Zipped File

Compressed Files