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

BIN file extension

Binary Disc Image

Disk Image Files

CPP file extension

C++ Source Code File

Developer Files

CSV file extension

Comma Separated Values File

Data Files

DB file extension

Database File

Database Files

DESKTHEMEPACK file extension

Windows 8 Desktop Theme Pack File

System Files

EXE file extension

Windows Executable File

Executable Files

HTM file extension

Hypertext Markup Language File

Web Files

IFF file extension

Interchange File Format

Audio Files

INI file extension

Windows Initialization File

Settings Files

M file extension

Objective-C Implementation File

Developer Files

RPM file extension

Red Hat Package Manager File

Compressed Files

TGA file extension

Targa Graphic

Raster Image Files

TOAST file extension

Toast Disc Image

Disk Image Files

VCXPROJ file extension

Visual C++ Project

Developer Files

XLR file extension

Works Spreadsheet

Spreadsheet Files