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

DRV file extension

Device Driver

System Files

GBR file extension

Gerber File

Data Files

GZ file extension

Gnu Zipped Archive

Compressed Files

ICO file extension

Icon File

System Files

ICS file extension

iCalendar File

Misc Files

LNK file extension

Windows File Shortcut

System Files

PDB file extension

Program Database

Database Files

PDF file extension

Portable Document Format File

Layout Files

RM file extension

Real Media File

Video Files

ROM file extension

N64 Game ROM File

Game Files

TIFF file extension

Tagged Image File Format

Raster Image Files

TMP file extension

Temporary File

Backup Files

VB file extension

VBScript File

Executable Files

VCXPROJ file extension

Visual C++ Project

Developer Files

VOB file extension

DVD Video Object File

Video Files