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

CGI file extension

Common Gateway Interface Script

Executable Files

CRDOWNLOAD file extension

Chrome Partially Downloaded File

Misc Files

DB file extension

Database File

Database Files

DXF file extension

Drawing Exchange Format File

CAD Files

FLV file extension

Flash Video File

Video Files

KMZ file extension

Google Earth Placemark File

GIS Files

MPG file extension

MPEG Video File

Video Files

PDB file extension

Program Database

Database Files

PIF file extension

Program Information File

Executable Files

PL file extension

Perl Script

Developer Files

SAV file extension

Saved Game

Game Files

SQL file extension

Structured Query Language Data File

Database Files

TMP file extension

Temporary File

Backup Files

WMA file extension

Windows Media Audio File

Audio Files

ZIP file extension

Zipped File

Compressed Files