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

CBR file extension

Comic Book RAR Archive

Compressed Files

GZ file extension

Gnu Zipped Archive

Compressed Files

DRV file extension

Device Driver

System Files

SAV file extension

Saved Game

Game Files

MID file extension

MIDI File

Audio Files

NES file extension

Nintendo (NES) ROM File

Game Files

XML file extension

XML File

Data Files

TEX file extension

LaTeX Source Document

Text Files

PS file extension

PostScript File

Vector Image Files

7Z file extension

7-Zip Compressed File

Compressed Files

MSI file extension

Windows Installer Package

Misc Files

DOC file extension

Microsoft Word Document

Text Files

M4V file extension

iTunes Video File

Video Files

MOV file extension

Apple QuickTime Movie

Video Files

FON file extension

Generic Font File

Font Files