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

ASX file extension

Microsoft ASF Redirector File

Video Files

BMP file extension

Bitmap Image File

Raster Image Files

CFG file extension

Configuration File

Settings Files

CPL file extension

Windows Control Panel Item

System Files

DRV file extension

Device Driver

System Files

FLV file extension

Flash Video File

Video Files

GPX file extension

GPS Exchange File

GIS Files

IFF file extension

Interchange File Format

Audio Files

INDD file extension

Adobe InDesign Document

Layout Files

PDB file extension

Program Database

Database Files

RSS file extension

Rich Site Summary

Web Files

SH file extension

Bash Shell Script

Developer Files

TEX file extension

LaTeX Source Document

Text Files

TORRENT file extension

BitTorrent File

Misc Files

VCXPROJ file extension

Visual C++ Project

Developer Files