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

BMP file extension

Bitmap Image File

Raster Image Files

CPP file extension

C++ Source Code File

Developer Files

CRX file extension

Chrome Extension

Plugin Files

DNG file extension

Digital Negative Image File

Camera Raw Files

EPUB file extension

Open eBook File

eBook Files

FLV file extension

Flash Video File

Video Files

LUA file extension

Lua Source File

Developer Files

MPA file extension

MPEG-2 Audio File

Audio Files

PART file extension

Partially Downloaded File

Misc Files

PNG file extension

Portable Network Graphic

Raster Image Files

PRF file extension

Outlook Profile File

Settings Files

RSS file extension

Rich Site Summary

Web Files

TORRENT file extension

BitTorrent File

Misc Files

UUE file extension

Uuencoded File

Encoded Files

WPS file extension

Microsoft Works Word Processor Document

Text Files