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

DDS file extension

DirectDraw Surface

Raster Image Files

DNG file extension

Digital Negative Image File

Camera Raw Files

GADGET file extension

Windows Gadget

Executable Files

GPX file extension

GPS Exchange File

GIS Files

JAR file extension

Java Archive File

Executable Files

JPG file extension

JPEG Image

Raster Image Files

MPG file extension

MPEG Video File

Video Files

MSI file extension

Windows Installer Package

Misc Files

PART file extension

Partially Downloaded File

Misc Files

TGA file extension

Targa Graphic

Raster Image Files

VB file extension

VBScript File

Executable Files

VCD file extension

Virtual CD

Disk Image Files

WSF file extension

Windows Script File

Executable Files

XML file extension

XML File

Data Files