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

C file extension

C/C++ Source Code File

Developer Files

DBF file extension

Database File

Database Files

GAM file extension

Saved Game File

Game Files

JPG file extension

JPEG Image

Raster Image Files

M file extension

Objective-C Implementation File

Developer Files

MAX file extension

3ds Max Scene File

3D Image Files

PAGES file extension

Pages Document

Text Files

PPS file extension

PowerPoint Slide Show

Data Files

PPTX file extension

PowerPoint Open XML Presentation

Data Files

RAR file extension

WinRAR Compressed Archive

Compressed Files

TAR file extension

Consolidated Unix File Archive

Data Files

THM file extension

Thumbnail Image File

Raster Image Files

VCXPROJ file extension

Visual C++ Project

Developer Files

WMA file extension

Windows Media Audio File

Audio Files

XCODEPROJ file extension

Xcode Project

Developer Files