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

ASPX file extension

Active Server Page Extended File

Web Files

CBR file extension

Comic Book RAR Archive

Compressed Files

CRDOWNLOAD file extension

Chrome Partially Downloaded File

Misc Files

CS file extension

Visual C# Source Code File

Developer Files

DBF file extension

Database File

Database Files

GPX file extension

GPS Exchange File

GIS Files

INI file extension

Windows Initialization File

Settings Files

ISO file extension

Disc Image File

Disk Image Files

LOG file extension

Log File

Text Files

MIM file extension

Multi-Purpose Internet Mail Message File

Encoded Files

ROM file extension

N64 Game ROM File

Game Files

SYS file extension

Windows System File

System Files

TIFF file extension

Tagged Image File Format

Raster Image Files

WMV file extension

Windows Media Video File

Video Files

WPS file extension

Microsoft Works Word Processor Document

Text Files