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

WMA file extension

Windows Media Audio File

Audio Files

SVG file extension

Scalable Vector Graphics File

Vector Image Files

ZIP file extension

Zipped File

Compressed Files

XLSX file extension

Microsoft Excel Open XML Spreadsheet

Spreadsheet Files

GAM file extension

Saved Game File

Game Files

TARGZ file extension

Compressed Tarball File

Compressed Files

RA file extension

Real Audio File

Audio Files

RPM file extension

Red Hat Package Manager File

Compressed Files

MIM file extension

Multi-Purpose Internet Mail Message File

Encoded Files

DWG file extension

AutoCAD Drawing Database File

CAD Files

BAK file extension

Backup File

Backup Files

7Z file extension

7-Zip Compressed File

Compressed Files

PNG file extension

Portable Network Graphic

Raster Image Files

CBR file extension

Comic Book RAR Archive

Compressed Files