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

AIF file extension

Audio Interchange File Format

Audio Files

AVI file extension

Audio Video Interleave File

Video Files

CBR file extension

Comic Book RAR Archive

Compressed Files

CPP file extension

C++ Source Code File

Developer Files

CUR file extension

Windows Cursor

System Files

EPS file extension

Encapsulated PostScript File

Vector Image Files

FON file extension

Generic Font File

Font Files

H file extension

C/C++/Objective-C Header File

Developer Files

JPG file extension

JPEG Image

Raster Image Files

LNK file extension

Windows File Shortcut

System Files

PRF file extension

Outlook Profile File

Settings Files

SAV file extension

Saved Game

Game Files

SH file extension

Bash Shell Script

Developer Files

TAR file extension

Consolidated Unix File Archive

Data Files

3DM file extension

Rhino 3D Model

3D Image Files