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

APK file extension

Android Package File

Executable Files

DB file extension

Database File

Database Files

DMP file extension

Windows Memory Dump

System Files

DOCX file extension

Microsoft Word Open XML Document

Text Files

FLA file extension

Adobe Flash Animation

Developer Files

GADGET file extension

Windows Gadget

Executable Files

GIF file extension

Graphical Interchange Format File

Raster Image Files

H file extension

C/C++/Objective-C Header File

Developer Files

INDD file extension

Adobe InDesign Document

Layout Files

MPA file extension

MPEG-2 Audio File

Audio Files

PPS file extension

PowerPoint Slide Show

Data Files

VCD file extension

Virtual CD

Disk Image Files

WMA file extension

Windows Media Audio File

Audio Files

XLR file extension

Works Spreadsheet

Spreadsheet Files

ZIP file extension

Zipped File

Compressed Files