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

ASX file extension

Microsoft ASF Redirector File

Video Files

CUE file extension

Cue Sheet File

Disk Image Files

DBF file extension

Database File

Database Files

DOCX file extension

Microsoft Word Open XML Document

Text Files

EXE file extension

Windows Executable File

Executable Files

GBR file extension

Gerber File

Data Files

GZ file extension

Gnu Zipped Archive

Compressed Files

KEY file extension

Keynote Presentation

Data Files

OTF file extension

OpenType Font

Font Files

RPM file extension

Red Hat Package Manager File

Compressed Files

TAR file extension

Consolidated Unix File Archive

Data Files

TGA file extension

Targa Graphic

Raster Image Files

VCF file extension

vCard File

Data Files

XLR file extension

Works Spreadsheet

Spreadsheet Files

XML file extension

XML File

Data Files