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

BAK file extension

Backup File

Backup Files

DBF file extension

Database File

Database Files

GBR file extension

Gerber File

Data Files

MAX file extension

3ds Max Scene File

3D Image Files

MID file extension

MIDI File

Audio Files

PDB file extension

Program Database

Database Files

PIF file extension

Program Information File

Executable Files

RPM file extension

Red Hat Package Manager File

Compressed Files

RSS file extension

Rich Site Summary

Web Files

TIF file extension

Tagged Image File

Raster Image Files

VCD file extension

Virtual CD

Disk Image Files

VCF file extension

vCard File

Data Files

VOB file extension

DVD Video Object File

Video Files

WPD file extension

WordPerfect Document

Text Files

ZIP file extension

Zipped File

Compressed Files