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

DMP file extension

Windows Memory Dump

System Files

DNG file extension

Digital Negative Image File

Camera Raw Files

GADGET file extension

Windows Gadget

Executable Files

INI file extension

Windows Initialization File

Settings Files

JAVA file extension

Java Source Code File

Developer Files

LUA file extension

Lua Source File

Developer Files

PDB file extension

Program Database

Database Files

PS file extension

PostScript File

Vector Image Files

RPM file extension

Red Hat Package Manager File

Compressed Files

SQL file extension

Structured Query Language Data File

Database Files

SRT file extension

SubRip Subtitle File

Video Files

TORRENT file extension

BitTorrent File

Misc Files

TTF file extension

TrueType Font

Font Files

ZIPX file extension

Extended Zip File

Compressed Files