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

ASP file extension

Active Server Page

Web Files

CUE file extension

Cue Sheet File

Disk Image Files

DEB file extension

Debian Software Package

Compressed Files

DNG file extension

Digital Negative Image File

Camera Raw Files

DWG file extension

AutoCAD Drawing Database File

CAD Files

FLA file extension

Adobe Flash Animation

Developer Files

FLV file extension

Flash Video File

Video Files

GED file extension

GEDCOM Genealogy Data File

Data Files

JPG file extension

JPEG Image

Raster Image Files

OBJ file extension

Wavefront 3D Object File

3D Image Files

PDB file extension

Program Database

Database Files

PIF file extension

Program Information File

Executable Files

ROM file extension

N64 Game ROM File

Game Files

TIFF file extension

Tagged Image File Format

Raster Image Files

ZIP file extension

Zipped File

Compressed Files