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

CBR file extension

Comic Book RAR Archive

Compressed Files

CRDOWNLOAD file extension

Chrome Partially Downloaded File

Misc Files

DBF file extension

Database File

Database Files

DLL file extension

Dynamic Link Library

System Files

EXE file extension

Windows Executable File

Executable Files

FNT file extension

Windows Font File

Font Files

GAM file extension

Saved Game File

Game Files

KEY file extension

Keynote Presentation

Data Files

KML file extension

Keyhole Markup Language File

GIS Files

MDB file extension

Microsoft Access Database

Database Files

RPM file extension

Red Hat Package Manager File

Compressed Files

RSS file extension

Rich Site Summary

Web Files

SAV file extension

Saved Game

Game Files

TEX file extension

LaTeX Source Document

Text Files

VOB file extension

DVD Video Object File

Video Files