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

APK file extension

Android Package File

Executable Files

DBF file extension

Database File

Database Files

JS file extension

JavaScript File

Web Files

LOG file extension

Log File

Text Files

M file extension

Objective-C Implementation File

Developer Files

MOBI file extension

Mobipocket eBook

eBook Files

PS file extension

PostScript File

Vector Image Files

RM file extension

Real Media File

Video Files

TARGZ file extension

Compressed Tarball File

Compressed Files

TGA file extension

Targa Graphic

Raster Image Files

TXT file extension

Plain Text File

Text Files

WAV file extension

WAVE Audio File

Audio Files

WPS file extension

Microsoft Works Word Processor Document

Text Files

XML file extension

XML File

Data Files