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

DBF file extension

Database File

Database Files

DOCX file extension

Microsoft Word Open XML Document

Text Files

FLA file extension

Adobe Flash Animation

Developer Files

GED file extension

GEDCOM Genealogy Data File

Data Files

ICNS file extension

Mac OS X Icon Resource File

System Files

KEYCHAIN file extension

Mac OS X Keychain File

Data Files

OTF file extension

OpenType Font

Font Files

PL file extension

Perl Script

Developer Files

PSPIMAGE file extension

PaintShop Pro Image

Raster Image Files

RA file extension

Real Audio File

Audio Files

SVG file extension

Scalable Vector Graphics File

Vector Image Files

TGA file extension

Targa Graphic

Raster Image Files

TIF file extension

Tagged Image File

Raster Image Files

VCF file extension

vCard File

Data Files

XLR file extension

Works Spreadsheet

Spreadsheet Files