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

APK file extension

Android Package File

Executable Files

AVI file extension

Audio Video Interleave File

Video Files

BMP file extension

Bitmap Image File

Raster Image Files

CAB file extension

Windows Cabinet File

System Files

CFG file extension

Configuration File

Settings Files

CPP file extension

C++ Source Code File

Developer Files

CUE file extension

Cue Sheet File

Disk Image Files

EPUB file extension

Open eBook File

eBook Files

MP3 file extension

MP3 Audio File

Audio Files

RAR file extension

WinRAR Compressed Archive

Compressed Files

TORRENT file extension

BitTorrent File

Misc Files

WMA file extension

Windows Media Audio File

Audio Files

XLR file extension

Works Spreadsheet

Spreadsheet Files

YUV file extension

YUV Encoded Image File

Raster Image Files