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

CBR file extension

Comic Book RAR Archive

Compressed Files

CPP file extension

C++ Source Code File

Developer Files

DEM file extension

Video Game Demo File

Game Files

DOC file extension

Microsoft Word Document

Text Files

DRV file extension

Device Driver

System Files

FLA file extension

Adobe Flash Animation

Developer Files

INDD file extension

Adobe InDesign Document

Layout Files

JAR file extension

Java Archive File

Executable Files

JAVA file extension

Java Source Code File

Developer Files

LUA file extension

Lua Source File

Developer Files

MID file extension

MIDI File

Audio Files

RM file extension

Real Media File

Video Files

TORRENT file extension

BitTorrent File

Misc Files

TXT file extension

Plain Text File

Text Files

WAV file extension

WAVE Audio File

Audio Files