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

AIF file extension

Audio Interchange File Format

Audio Files

ASP file extension

Active Server Page

Web Files

CUE file extension

Cue Sheet File

Disk Image Files

DWG file extension

AutoCAD Drawing Database File

CAD Files

FLA file extension

Adobe Flash Animation

Developer Files

GPX file extension

GPS Exchange File

GIS Files

H file extension

C/C++/Objective-C Header File

Developer Files

IFF file extension

Interchange File Format

Audio Files

JPG file extension

JPEG Image

Raster Image Files

MIM file extension

Multi-Purpose Internet Mail Message File

Encoded Files

MPA file extension

MPEG-2 Audio File

Audio Files

MPG file extension

MPEG Video File

Video Files

SAV file extension

Saved Game

Game Files

SVG file extension

Scalable Vector Graphics File

Vector Image Files

WMV file extension

Windows Media Video File

Video Files