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

ACCDB file extension

Access 2007 Database File

Database Files

ASP file extension

Active Server Page

Web Files

CPP file extension

C++ Source Code File

Developer Files

DTD file extension

Document Type Definition File

Developer Files

GBR file extension

Gerber File

Data Files

IFF file extension

Interchange File Format

Audio Files

KEY file extension

Keynote Presentation

Data Files

LOG file extension

Log File

Text Files

MAX file extension

3ds Max Scene File

3D Image Files

RM file extension

Real Media File

Video Files

TEX file extension

LaTeX Source Document

Text Files

TGA file extension

Targa Graphic

Raster Image Files

TIFF file extension

Tagged Image File Format

Raster Image Files

VB file extension

VBScript File

Executable Files

WAV file extension

WAVE Audio File

Audio Files