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

EPS file extension

Encapsulated PostScript File

Vector Image Files

TORRENT file extension

BitTorrent File

Misc Files

7Z file extension

7-Zip Compressed File

Compressed Files

FLA file extension

Adobe Flash Animation

Developer Files

MDF file extension

Media Disc Image File

Disk Image Files

DNG file extension

Digital Negative Image File

Camera Raw Files

XCODEPROJ file extension

Xcode Project

Developer Files

TAX2012 file extension

TurboTax 2012 Tax Return

Data Files

GZ file extension

Gnu Zipped Archive

Compressed Files

C file extension

C/C++ Source Code File

Developer Files

TAR file extension

Consolidated Unix File Archive

Data Files

PPS file extension

PowerPoint Slide Show

Data Files

RSS file extension

Rich Site Summary

Web Files

CPL file extension

Windows Control Panel Item

System Files

MIM file extension

Multi-Purpose Internet Mail Message File

Encoded Files