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

CSV file extension

Comma Separated Values File

Data Files

CUE file extension

Cue Sheet File

Disk Image Files

DMP file extension

Windows Memory Dump

System Files

DRV file extension

Device Driver

System Files

GED file extension

GEDCOM Genealogy Data File

Data Files

IBOOKS file extension

Multi-Touch iBook

Data Files

ICO file extension

Icon File

System Files

LOG file extension

Log File

Text Files

RPM file extension

Red Hat Package Manager File

Compressed Files

SAV file extension

Saved Game

Game Files

SDF file extension

Standard Data File

Data Files

SQL file extension

Structured Query Language Data File

Database Files

SVG file extension

Scalable Vector Graphics File

Vector Image Files

TIF file extension

Tagged Image File

Raster Image Files

UUE file extension

Uuencoded File

Encoded Files