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

BAT file extension

DOS Batch File

Executable Files

CRX file extension

Chrome Extension

Plugin Files

CSV file extension

Comma Separated Values File

Data Files

DB file extension

Database File

Database Files

DNG file extension

Digital Negative Image File

Camera Raw Files

FLA file extension

Adobe Flash Animation

Developer Files

GIF file extension

Graphical Interchange Format File

Raster Image Files

H file extension

C/C++/Objective-C Header File

Developer Files

MOV file extension

Apple QuickTime Movie

Video Files

MP3 file extension

MP3 Audio File

Audio Files

NES file extension

Nintendo (NES) ROM File

Game Files

PPT file extension

PowerPoint Presentation

Data Files

SAV file extension

Saved Game

Game Files

VB file extension

VBScript File

Executable Files

XML file extension

XML File

Data Files