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

CRDOWNLOAD file extension

Chrome Partially Downloaded File

Misc Files

DWG file extension

AutoCAD Drawing Database File

CAD Files

FLA file extension

Adobe Flash Animation

Developer Files

GBR file extension

Gerber File

Data Files

GED file extension

GEDCOM Genealogy Data File

Data Files

ISO file extension

Disc Image File

Disk Image Files

PL file extension

Perl Script

Developer Files

RA file extension

Real Audio File

Audio Files

RSS file extension

Rich Site Summary

Web Files

SDF file extension

Standard Data File

Data Files

TMP file extension

Temporary File

Backup Files

TOAST file extension

Toast Disc Image

Disk Image Files

VCF file extension

vCard File

Data Files

WSF file extension

Windows Script File

Executable Files

XLS file extension

Excel Spreadsheet

Spreadsheet Files