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

ASF file extension

Advanced Systems Format File

Video Files

ASP file extension

Active Server Page

Web Files

CBR file extension

Comic Book RAR Archive

Compressed Files

EPS file extension

Encapsulated PostScript File

Vector Image Files

GADGET file extension

Windows Gadget

Executable Files

GPX file extension

GPS Exchange File

GIS Files

ICS file extension

iCalendar File

Misc Files

PL file extension

Perl Script

Developer Files

PSPIMAGE file extension

PaintShop Pro Image

Raster Image Files

TIF file extension

Tagged Image File

Raster Image Files

VB file extension

VBScript File

Executable Files

WMA file extension

Windows Media Audio File

Audio Files

XCODEPROJ file extension

Xcode Project

Developer Files

XML file extension

XML File

Data Files

3DM file extension

Rhino 3D Model

3D Image Files