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

CAB file extension

Windows Cabinet File

System Files

CPP file extension

C++ Source Code File

Developer Files

CSS file extension

Cascading Style Sheet

Web Files

CUE file extension

Cue Sheet File

Disk Image Files

DRV file extension

Device Driver

System Files

EXE file extension

Windows Executable File

Executable Files

FLA file extension

Adobe Flash Animation

Developer Files

GADGET file extension

Windows Gadget

Executable Files

JAVA file extension

Java Source Code File

Developer Files

JPG file extension

JPEG Image

Raster Image Files

PPT file extension

PowerPoint Presentation

Data Files

RPM file extension

Red Hat Package Manager File

Compressed Files

SWF file extension

Shockwave Flash Movie

Video Files

XLR file extension

Works Spreadsheet

Spreadsheet Files

ZIP file extension

Zipped File

Compressed Files