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

ASF file extension

Advanced Systems Format File

Video Files

CBR file extension

Comic Book RAR Archive

Compressed Files

CPP file extension

C++ Source Code File

Developer Files

CS file extension

Visual C# Source Code File

Developer Files

CUR file extension

Windows Cursor

System Files

DB file extension

Database File

Database Files

DBF file extension

Database File

Database Files

DRV file extension

Device Driver

System Files

MID file extension

MIDI File

Audio Files

RM file extension

Real Media File

Video Files

UUE file extension

Uuencoded File

Encoded Files

VCF file extension

vCard File

Data Files

WMA file extension

Windows Media Audio File

Audio Files

3G2 file extension

3GPP2 Multimedia File

Video Files

3GP file extension

3GPP Multimedia File

Video Files