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

ASP file extension

Active Server Page

Web Files

AZW file extension

Amazon Kindle eBook File

eBook Files

BIN file extension

Binary Disc Image

Disk Image Files

CLASS file extension

Java Class File

Developer Files

CSS file extension

Cascading Style Sheet

Web Files

DBF file extension

Database File

Database Files

EPS file extension

Encapsulated PostScript File

Vector Image Files

FLV file extension

Flash Video File

Video Files

INI file extension

Windows Initialization File

Settings Files

KML file extension

Keyhole Markup Language File

GIS Files

PPTX file extension

PowerPoint Open XML Presentation

Data Files

ROM file extension

N64 Game ROM File

Game Files

SH file extension

Bash Shell Script

Developer Files

TEX file extension

LaTeX Source Document

Text Files

VCF file extension

vCard File

Data Files