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

AZW file extension

Amazon Kindle eBook File

eBook Files

BIN file extension

Binary Disc Image

Disk Image Files

CFG file extension

Configuration File

Settings Files

CPP file extension

C++ Source Code File

Developer Files

CRX file extension

Chrome Extension

Plugin Files

EPS file extension

Encapsulated PostScript File

Vector Image Files

GAM file extension

Saved Game File

Game Files

M3U file extension

Media Playlist File

Audio Files

MP3 file extension

MP3 Audio File

Audio Files

PDF file extension

Portable Document Format File

Layout Files

PNG file extension

Portable Network Graphic

Raster Image Files

PY file extension

Python Script

Developer Files

SWF file extension

Shockwave Flash Movie

Video Files

TORRENT file extension

BitTorrent File

Misc Files

3GP file extension

3GPP Multimedia File

Video Files