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

CFG file extension

Configuration File

Settings Files

CGI file extension

Common Gateway Interface Script

Executable 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

INI file extension

Windows Initialization File

Settings Files

LOG file extension

Log File

Text Files

LUA file extension

Lua Source File

Developer Files

PL file extension

Perl Script

Developer Files

PSPIMAGE file extension

PaintShop Pro Image

Raster Image Files

ROM file extension

N64 Game ROM File

Game Files

SRT file extension

SubRip Subtitle File

Video Files

SVG file extension

Scalable Vector Graphics File

Vector Image Files

TAR file extension

Consolidated Unix File Archive

Data Files

VCXPROJ file extension

Visual C++ Project

Developer Files