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

COM file extension

DOS Command File

Executable Files

CPL file extension

Windows Control Panel Item

System Files

DBF file extension

Database File

Database Files

DEB file extension

Debian Software Package

Compressed Files

INI file extension

Windows Initialization File

Settings Files

JPG file extension

JPEG Image

Raster Image Files

JS file extension

JavaScript File

Web Files

M3U file extension

Media Playlist File

Audio Files

PS file extension

PostScript File

Vector Image Files

SAV file extension

Saved Game

Game Files

SVG file extension

Scalable Vector Graphics File

Vector Image Files

VCXPROJ file extension

Visual C++ Project

Developer Files

WMA file extension

Windows Media Audio File

Audio Files

WPS file extension

Microsoft Works Word Processor Document

Text Files

YUV file extension

YUV Encoded Image File

Raster Image Files