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

CPL file extension

Windows Control Panel Item

System Files

DMP file extension

Windows Memory Dump

System Files

DOC# file extension

Microsoft Word Document

Text Files

GBR file extension

Gerber File

Data Files

GZ file extension

Gnu Zipped Archive

Compressed Files

OBJ file extension

Wavefront 3D Object File

3D Image Files

PL file extension

Perl Script

Developer Files

SAV file extension

Saved Game

Game Files

SRT file extension

SubRip Subtitle File

Video Files

VCXPROJ file extension

Visual C++ Project

Developer Files

WMA file extension

Windows Media Audio File

Audio Files

WMV file extension

Windows Media Video File

Video Files

WPS file extension

Microsoft Works Word Processor Document

Text Files

ZIP file extension

Zipped File

Compressed Files