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

ASX file extension

Microsoft ASF Redirector File

Video Files

BIN file extension

Binary Disc Image

Disk Image Files

DOC# file extension

Microsoft Word Document

Text Files

DOCX file extension

Microsoft Word Open XML Document

Text Files

FON file extension

Generic Font File

Font Files

GZ file extension

Gnu Zipped Archive

Compressed Files

ICS file extension

iCalendar File

Misc Files

LUA file extension

Lua Source File

Developer Files

MDB file extension

Microsoft Access Database

Database Files

PPTX file extension

PowerPoint Open XML Presentation

Data Files

PSPIMAGE file extension

PaintShop Pro Image

Raster Image Files

TORRENT file extension

BitTorrent File

Misc Files

VCD file extension

Virtual CD

Disk Image Files

VCXPROJ file extension

Visual C++ Project

Developer Files

WAV file extension

WAVE Audio File

Audio Files