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

CBR file extension

Comic Book RAR Archive

Compressed Files

CFG file extension

Configuration File

Settings Files

CSV file extension

Comma Separated Values File

Data Files

DBF file extension

Database File

Database Files

FLA file extension

Adobe Flash Animation

Developer Files

INI file extension

Windows Initialization File

Settings Files

MP4 file extension

MPEG-4 Video File

Video Files

PRF file extension

Outlook Profile File

Settings Files

RA file extension

Real Audio File

Audio Files

ROM file extension

N64 Game ROM File

Game Files

SLN file extension

Visual Studio Solution File

Developer Files

TIF file extension

Tagged Image File

Raster Image Files

VCD file extension

Virtual CD

Disk Image Files

WMA file extension

Windows Media Audio File

Audio Files

3DM file extension

Rhino 3D Model

3D Image Files