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

CFM file extension

ColdFusion Markup File

Web Files

GIF file extension

Graphical Interchange Format File

Raster Image Files

GPX file extension

GPS Exchange File

GIS Files

LOG file extension

Log File

Text Files

MOBI file extension

Mobipocket eBook

eBook Files

PS file extension

PostScript File

Vector Image Files

RPM file extension

Red Hat Package Manager File

Compressed Files

SH file extension

Bash Shell Script

Developer Files

SVG file extension

Scalable Vector Graphics File

Vector Image Files

SWF file extension

Shockwave Flash Movie

Video Files

TEX file extension

LaTeX Source Document

Text Files

TGA file extension

Targa Graphic

Raster Image Files

VCXPROJ file extension

Visual C++ Project

Developer Files

ZIPX file extension

Extended Zip File

Compressed Files