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

AIF file extension

Audio Interchange File Format

Audio Files

C file extension

C/C++ Source Code File

Developer Files

COM file extension

DOS Command File

Executable Files

DB file extension

Database File

Database Files

DXF file extension

Drawing Exchange Format File

CAD Files

EXE file extension

Windows Executable File

Executable Files

FON file extension

Generic Font File

Font Files

ICS file extension

iCalendar File

Misc Files

JAVA file extension

Java Source Code File

Developer Files

JSP file extension

Java Server Page

Web Files

MAX file extension

3ds Max Scene File

3D Image Files

MPA file extension

MPEG-2 Audio File

Audio Files

NES file extension

Nintendo (NES) ROM File

Game Files

OTF file extension

OpenType Font

Font Files

ZIPX file extension

Extended Zip File

Compressed Files