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

AIF file extension

Audio Interchange File Format

Audio Files

CFM file extension

ColdFusion Markup File

Web Files

CSR file extension

Certificate Signing Request File

Web Files

DBF file extension

Database File

Database Files

DEM file extension

Video Game Demo File

Game Files

DMP file extension

Windows Memory Dump

System Files

FLV file extension

Flash Video File

Video Files

ICS file extension

iCalendar File

Misc Files

ISO file extension

Disc Image File

Disk Image Files

MSI file extension

Windows Installer Package

Misc Files

PART file extension

Partially Downloaded File

Misc Files

PSPIMAGE file extension

PaintShop Pro Image

Raster Image Files

TGA file extension

Targa Graphic

Raster Image Files

WAV file extension

WAVE Audio File

Audio Files

WPS file extension

Microsoft Works Word Processor Document

Text Files