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

AI file extension

Adobe Illustrator File

Vector Image Files

ASP file extension

Active Server Page

Web Files

CS file extension

Visual C# Source Code File

Developer Files

DB file extension

Database File

Database Files

DRV file extension

Device Driver

System Files

JPG file extension

JPEG Image

Raster Image Files

KMZ file extension

Google Earth Placemark File

GIS Files

ODT file extension

OpenDocument Text Document

Text Files

PL file extension

Perl Script

Developer Files

PRF file extension

Outlook Profile File

Settings Files

RA file extension

Real Audio File

Audio Files

RPM file extension

Red Hat Package Manager File

Compressed Files

TORRENT file extension

BitTorrent File

Misc Files

WPS file extension

Microsoft Works Word Processor Document

Text Files

YUV file extension

YUV Encoded Image File

Raster Image Files