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

ASF file extension

Advanced Systems Format File

Video Files

DRV file extension

Device Driver

System Files

FNT file extension

Windows Font File

Font Files

GBR file extension

Gerber File

Data Files

MOV file extension

Apple QuickTime Movie

Video Files

NES file extension

Nintendo (NES) ROM File

Game Files

PDF file extension

Portable Document Format File

Layout Files

RPM file extension

Red Hat Package Manager File

Compressed Files

RSS file extension

Rich Site Summary

Web Files

SDF file extension

Standard Data File

Data Files

SH file extension

Bash Shell Script

Developer Files

TARGZ file extension

Compressed Tarball File

Compressed Files

VCD file extension

Virtual CD

Disk Image Files

VCF file extension

vCard File

Data Files

WPS file extension

Microsoft Works Word Processor Document

Text Files