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

GAM file extension

Saved Game File

Game Files

GBR file extension

Gerber File

Data Files

YUV file extension

YUV Encoded Image File

Raster Image Files

IBOOKS file extension

Multi-Touch iBook

Data Files

ASPX file extension

Active Server Page Extended File

Web Files

7Z file extension

7-Zip Compressed File

Compressed Files

CSR file extension

Certificate Signing Request File

Web Files

FNT file extension

Windows Font File

Font Files

CPL file extension

Windows Control Panel Item

System Files

VCXPROJ file extension

Visual C++ Project

Developer Files

TXT file extension

Plain Text File

Text Files

DXF file extension

Drawing Exchange Format File

CAD Files

LOG file extension

Log File

Text Files

WPD file extension

WordPerfect Document

Text Files

JPG file extension

JPEG Image

Raster Image Files