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

DEM file extension

Video Game Demo File

Game Files

DESKTHEMEPACK file extension

Windows 8 Desktop Theme Pack File

System Files

EPS file extension

Encapsulated PostScript File

Vector Image Files

FNT file extension

Windows Font File

Font Files

FON file extension

Generic Font File

Font Files

GED file extension

GEDCOM Genealogy Data File

Data Files

INI file extension

Windows Initialization File

Settings Files

MDB file extension

Microsoft Access Database

Database Files

RM file extension

Real Media File

Video Files

ROM file extension

N64 Game ROM File

Game Files

SRT file extension

SubRip Subtitle File

Video Files

SYS file extension

Windows System File

System Files

VCXPROJ file extension

Visual C++ Project

Developer Files

WPD file extension

WordPerfect Document

Text Files

XML file extension

XML File

Data Files