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

AI file extension

Adobe Illustrator File

Vector Image Files

BAK file extension

Backup File

Backup Files

CRDOWNLOAD file extension

Chrome Partially Downloaded File

Misc Files

DRV file extension

Device Driver

System Files

DXF file extension

Drawing Exchange Format File

CAD Files

FLA file extension

Adobe Flash Animation

Developer Files

JPG file extension

JPEG Image

Raster Image Files

LOG file extension

Log File

Text Files

MDB file extension

Microsoft Access Database

Database Files

ODT file extension

OpenDocument Text Document

Text Files

PDB file extension

Program Database

Database Files

SVG file extension

Scalable Vector Graphics File

Vector Image Files

TOAST file extension

Toast Disc Image

Disk Image Files

VB file extension

VBScript File

Executable Files

ZIP file extension

Zipped File

Compressed Files