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

BMP file extension

Bitmap Image File

Raster Image Files

CUR file extension

Windows Cursor

System Files

DBF file extension

Database File

Database Files

FNT file extension

Windows Font File

Font Files

MDB file extension

Microsoft Access Database

Database Files

MPG file extension

MPEG Video File

Video Files

MSG file extension

Outlook Mail Message

Text Files

PL file extension

Perl Script

Developer Files

PS file extension

PostScript File

Vector Image Files

TAX2012 file extension

TurboTax 2012 Tax Return

Data Files

VCF file extension

vCard File

Data Files

VCXPROJ file extension

Visual C++ Project

Developer Files

VOB file extension

DVD Video Object File

Video Files

WMA file extension

Windows Media Audio File

Audio Files

3G2 file extension

3GPP2 Multimedia File

Video Files