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

CFG file extension

Configuration File

Settings Files

CS file extension

Visual C# Source Code File

Developer Files

CUR file extension

Windows Cursor

System Files

DEB file extension

Debian Software Package

Compressed Files

EPS file extension

Encapsulated PostScript File

Vector Image Files

ICNS file extension

Mac OS X Icon Resource File

System Files

MPA file extension

MPEG-2 Audio File

Audio Files

PDB file extension

Program Database

Database Files

PPS file extension

PowerPoint Slide Show

Data Files

RA file extension

Real Audio File

Audio Files

TAX2012 file extension

TurboTax 2012 Tax Return

Data Files

TEX file extension

LaTeX Source Document

Text Files

TGA file extension

Targa Graphic

Raster Image Files

UUE file extension

Uuencoded File

Encoded Files

VB file extension

VBScript File

Executable Files