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

DESKTHEMEPACK file extension

Windows 8 Desktop Theme Pack File

System Files

EPS file extension

Encapsulated PostScript File

Vector Image Files

FLV file extension

Flash Video File

Video Files

GBR file extension

Gerber File

Data Files

JSP file extension

Java Server Page

Web Files

ODT file extension

OpenDocument Text Document

Text Files

PCT file extension

Picture File

Layout Files

PIF file extension

Program Information File

Executable Files

PKG file extension

Mac OS X Installer Package

Compressed Files

PRF file extension

Outlook Profile File

Settings Files

RPM file extension

Red Hat Package Manager File

Compressed Files

THM file extension

Thumbnail Image File

Raster Image Files

TIF file extension

Tagged Image File

Raster Image Files

VCF file extension

vCard File

Data Files

XHTML file extension

Extensible Hypertext Markup Language File

Web Files