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

AZW file extension

Amazon Kindle eBook File

eBook Files

CSR file extension

Certificate Signing Request File

Web 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

GAM file extension

Saved Game File

Game Files

M file extension

Objective-C Implementation File

Developer Files

MPA file extension

MPEG-2 Audio File

Audio Files

PART file extension

Partially Downloaded File

Misc Files

PSPIMAGE file extension

PaintShop Pro Image

Raster Image Files

RPM file extension

Red Hat Package Manager File

Compressed Files

TGA file extension

Targa Graphic

Raster Image Files

VCD file extension

Virtual CD

Disk Image Files

3DS file extension

3D Studio Scene

3D Image Files