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

AZW file extension

Amazon Kindle eBook File

eBook Files

C file extension

C/C++ Source Code File

Developer Files

CER file extension

Internet Security Certificate

Web Files

DRV file extension

Device Driver

System Files

FNT file extension

Windows Font File

Font Files

GAM file extension

Saved Game File

Game Files

KML file extension

Keyhole Markup Language File

GIS Files

MPG file extension

MPEG Video File

Video Files

PL file extension

Perl Script

Developer Files

SVG file extension

Scalable Vector Graphics File

Vector Image Files

TAR file extension

Consolidated Unix File Archive

Data Files

TORRENT file extension

BitTorrent File

Misc Files

VCD file extension

Virtual CD

Disk Image Files

XML file extension

XML File

Data Files

3DS file extension

3D Studio Scene

3D Image Files