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

BIN file extension

Binary Disc Image

Disk Image Files

CRDOWNLOAD file extension

Chrome Partially Downloaded File

Misc Files

DAT file extension

Data File

Data Files

DWG file extension

AutoCAD Drawing Database File

CAD Files

FLA file extension

Adobe Flash Animation

Developer Files

GADGET file extension

Windows Gadget

Executable Files

LNK file extension

Windows File Shortcut

System Files

M file extension

Objective-C Implementation File

Developer Files

PSD file extension

Adobe Photoshop Document

Raster Image Files

SLN file extension

Visual Studio Solution File

Developer Files

SVG file extension

Scalable Vector Graphics File

Vector Image Files

VB file extension

VBScript File

Executable Files

VOB file extension

DVD Video Object File

Video Files

WSF file extension

Windows Script File

Executable Files

3GP file extension

3GPP Multimedia File

Video Files