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

ASF file extension

Advanced Systems Format File

Video Files

DOC file extension

Microsoft Word Document

Text Files

FLA file extension

Adobe Flash Animation

Developer Files

FLV file extension

Flash Video File

Video Files

LUA file extension

Lua Source File

Developer Files

M file extension

Objective-C Implementation File

Developer Files

MAX file extension

3ds Max Scene File

3D Image Files

NES file extension

Nintendo (NES) ROM File

Game Files

RA file extension

Real Audio File

Audio Files

SAV file extension

Saved Game

Game Files

SLN file extension

Visual Studio Solution File

Developer Files

TIF file extension

Tagged Image File

Raster Image Files

VCXPROJ file extension

Visual C++ Project

Developer Files

WPS file extension

Microsoft Works Word Processor Document

Text Files