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

EPS file extension

Encapsulated PostScript File

Vector Image Files

DMP file extension

Windows Memory Dump

System Files

IBOOKS file extension

Multi-Touch iBook

Data Files

PIF file extension

Program Information File

Executable Files

YUV file extension

YUV Encoded Image File

Raster Image Files

7Z file extension

7-Zip Compressed File

Compressed Files

DNG file extension

Digital Negative Image File

Camera Raw Files

PART file extension

Partially Downloaded File

Misc Files

C file extension

C/C++ Source Code File

Developer Files

APK file extension

Android Package File

Executable Files

TAX2012 file extension

TurboTax 2012 Tax Return

Data Files

TIF file extension

Tagged Image File

Raster Image Files

RPM file extension

Red Hat Package Manager File

Compressed Files

CFM file extension

ColdFusion Markup File

Web Files

DXF file extension

Drawing Exchange Format File

CAD Files