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

FLA file extension

Adobe Flash Animation

Developer Files

FNT file extension

Windows Font File

Font Files

GBR file extension

Gerber File

Data Files

INI file extension

Windows Initialization File

Settings Files

JPG file extension

JPEG Image

Raster Image Files

JSP file extension

Java Server Page

Web Files

PRF file extension

Outlook Profile File

Settings Files

PY file extension

Python Script

Developer Files

SH file extension

Bash Shell Script

Developer Files

SWF file extension

Shockwave Flash Movie

Video Files

TORRENT file extension

BitTorrent File

Misc Files

VCD file extension

Virtual CD

Disk Image Files

ZIPX file extension

Extended Zip File

Compressed Files

3G2 file extension

3GPP2 Multimedia File

Video Files