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

SVG file extension

Scalable Vector Graphics File

Vector Image Files

PPTX file extension

PowerPoint Open XML Presentation

Data Files

JSP file extension

Java Server Page

Web Files

TAR file extension

Consolidated Unix File Archive

Data Files

MID file extension

MIDI File

Audio Files

ZIPX file extension

Extended Zip File

Compressed Files

DXF file extension

Drawing Exchange Format File

CAD Files

PSD file extension

Adobe Photoshop Document

Raster Image Files

FNT file extension

Windows Font File

Font Files

7Z file extension

7-Zip Compressed File

Compressed Files

APP file extension

Mac OS X Application

Executable Files

BMP file extension

Bitmap Image File

Raster Image Files

VOB file extension

DVD Video Object File

Video Files

GIF file extension

Graphical Interchange Format File

Raster Image Files

TGA file extension

Targa Graphic

Raster Image Files