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

ASP file extension

Active Server Page

Web Files

ASPX file extension

Active Server Page Extended File

Web Files

BIN file extension

Binary Disc Image

Disk Image Files

C file extension

C/C++ Source Code File

Developer Files

DBF file extension

Database File

Database Files

FLA file extension

Adobe Flash Animation

Developer Files

JAR file extension

Java Archive File

Executable Files

M4A file extension

MPEG-4 Audio File

Audio Files

MP4 file extension

MPEG-4 Video File

Video Files

PDB file extension

Program Database

Database Files

SDF file extension

Standard Data File

Data Files

TMP file extension

Temporary File

Backup Files

VB file extension

VBScript File

Executable Files

VOB file extension

DVD Video Object File

Video Files

ZIP file extension

Zipped File

Compressed Files