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

DNG file extension

Digital Negative Image File

Camera Raw Files

FLA file extension

Adobe Flash Animation

Developer Files

FLV file extension

Flash Video File

Video Files

GADGET file extension

Windows Gadget

Executable Files

HQX file extension

BinHex 4.0 Encoded File

Encoded Files

ISO file extension

Disc Image File

Disk Image Files

KMZ file extension

Google Earth Placemark File

GIS Files

PPS file extension

PowerPoint Slide Show

Data Files

RM file extension

Real Media File

Video Files

TARGZ file extension

Compressed Tarball File

Compressed Files

TEX file extension

LaTeX Source Document

Text Files

TXT file extension

Plain Text File

Text Files

WAV file extension

WAVE Audio File

Audio Files

XML file extension

XML File

Data Files