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

VCF file extension

vCard File

Data Files

MOV file extension

Apple QuickTime Movie

Video Files

GBR file extension

Gerber File

Data Files

DB file extension

Database File

Database Files

DEM file extension

Video Game Demo File

Game Files

SVG file extension

Scalable Vector Graphics File

Vector Image Files

RPM file extension

Red Hat Package Manager File

Compressed Files

GED file extension

GEDCOM Genealogy Data File

Data Files

SYS file extension

Windows System File

System Files

TAR file extension

Consolidated Unix File Archive

Data Files

OTF file extension

OpenType Font

Font Files

7Z file extension

7-Zip Compressed File

Compressed Files

TMP file extension

Temporary File

Backup Files

XCODEPROJ file extension

Xcode Project

Developer Files

UUE file extension

Uuencoded File

Encoded Files