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

BAT file extension

DOS Batch File

Executable Files

CGI file extension

Common Gateway Interface Script

Executable Files

DB file extension

Database File

Database Files

DRV file extension

Device Driver

System Files

DXF file extension

Drawing Exchange Format File

CAD Files

FLA file extension

Adobe Flash Animation

Developer Files

GPX file extension

GPS Exchange File

GIS Files

JPG file extension

JPEG Image

Raster Image Files

MPA file extension

MPEG-2 Audio File

Audio Files

PLUGIN file extension

Mac OS X Plug-in

Plugin Files

ROM file extension

N64 Game ROM File

Game Files

SH file extension

Bash Shell Script

Developer Files

SWF file extension

Shockwave Flash Movie

Video Files

TAX2012 file extension

TurboTax 2012 Tax Return

Data Files

WPD file extension

WordPerfect Document

Text Files