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

DNG file extension

Digital Negative Image File

Camera Raw Files

DOC file extension

Microsoft Word Document

Text Files

WPS file extension

Microsoft Works Word Processor Document

Text Files

ZIPX file extension

Extended Zip File

Compressed Files

RA file extension

Real Audio File

Audio Files

OTF file extension

OpenType Font

Font Files

XLR file extension

Works Spreadsheet

Spreadsheet Files

TAR file extension

Consolidated Unix File Archive

Data Files

CPL file extension

Windows Control Panel Item

System Files

DMP file extension

Windows Memory Dump

System Files

PPS file extension

PowerPoint Slide Show

Data Files

HTML file extension

Hypertext Markup Language File

Web Files

CFG file extension

Configuration File

Settings Files

BMP file extension

Bitmap Image File

Raster Image Files

7Z file extension

7-Zip Compressed File

Compressed Files