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

AI file extension

Adobe Illustrator File

Vector Image Files

CBR file extension

Comic Book RAR Archive

Compressed Files

IBOOKS file extension

Multi-Touch iBook

Data Files

JAR file extension

Java Archive File

Executable Files

LUA file extension

Lua Source File

Developer Files

MID file extension

MIDI File

Audio Files

PPTX file extension

PowerPoint Open XML Presentation

Data Files

RA file extension

Real Audio File

Audio Files

SITX file extension

StuffIt X Archive

Compressed Files

TEX file extension

LaTeX Source Document

Text Files

UUE file extension

Uuencoded File

Encoded Files

VCF file extension

vCard File

Data Files

VOB file extension

DVD Video Object File

Video Files

WAV file extension

WAVE Audio File

Audio Files

ZIPX file extension

Extended Zip File

Compressed Files