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

CPP file extension

C++ Source Code File

Developer Files

DEM file extension

Video Game Demo File

Game Files

EXE file extension

Windows Executable File

Executable Files

FNT file extension

Windows Font File

Font Files

H file extension

C/C++/Objective-C Header File

Developer Files

ODT file extension

OpenDocument Text Document

Text Files

OTF file extension

OpenType Font

Font Files

PPTX file extension

PowerPoint Open XML Presentation

Data Files

RSS file extension

Rich Site Summary

Web Files

SVG file extension

Scalable Vector Graphics File

Vector Image Files

VCF file extension

vCard File

Data Files

WAV file extension

WAVE Audio File

Audio Files

WMA file extension

Windows Media Audio File

Audio Files

3DS file extension

3D Studio Scene

3D Image Files