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

ACCDB file extension

Access 2007 Database File

Database Files

BIN file extension

Binary Disc Image

Disk Image Files

CPP file extension

C++ Source Code File

Developer Files

CRDOWNLOAD file extension

Chrome Partially Downloaded File

Misc Files

CSV file extension

Comma Separated Values File

Data Files

DWG file extension

AutoCAD Drawing Database File

CAD Files

EPS file extension

Encapsulated PostScript File

Vector Image Files

JPG file extension

JPEG Image

Raster Image Files

KEY file extension

Keynote Presentation

Data Files

PY file extension

Python Script

Developer Files

ROM file extension

N64 Game ROM File

Game Files

SRT file extension

SubRip Subtitle File

Video Files

TAX2012 file extension

TurboTax 2012 Tax Return

Data Files

VCF file extension

vCard File

Data Files

YUV file extension

YUV Encoded Image File

Raster Image Files