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

ASP file extension

Active Server Page

Web Files

BMP file extension

Bitmap Image File

Raster Image Files

CBR file extension

Comic Book RAR Archive

Compressed Files

CPL file extension

Windows Control Panel Item

System Files

EXE file extension

Windows Executable File

Executable Files

GADGET file extension

Windows Gadget

Executable Files

LOG file extension

Log File

Text Files

MDB file extension

Microsoft Access Database

Database Files

MSI file extension

Windows Installer Package

Misc Files

PSPIMAGE file extension

PaintShop Pro Image

Raster Image Files

TAR file extension

Consolidated Unix File Archive

Data Files

TTF file extension

TrueType Font

Font Files

TXT file extension

Plain Text File

Text Files

VOB file extension

DVD Video Object File

Video Files