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

AI file extension

Adobe Illustrator File

Vector Image Files

BIN file extension

Binary Disc Image

Disk Image Files

CRX file extension

Chrome Extension

Plugin Files

DEB file extension

Debian Software Package

Compressed Files

DMG file extension

Mac OS X Disk Image

Disk Image Files

GED file extension

GEDCOM Genealogy Data File

Data Files

GPX file extension

GPS Exchange File

GIS Files

LUA file extension

Lua Source File

Developer Files

PART file extension

Partially Downloaded File

Misc Files

PRF file extension

Outlook Profile File

Settings Files

PS file extension

PostScript File

Vector Image Files

RTF file extension

Rich Text Format File

Text Files

SAV file extension

Saved Game

Game Files

TAR file extension

Consolidated Unix File Archive

Data Files

VB file extension

VBScript File

Executable Files