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

C file extension

C/C++ Source Code File

Developer Files

CSS file extension

Cascading Style Sheet

Web Files

DEB file extension

Debian Software Package

Compressed Files

DEM file extension

Video Game Demo File

Game Files

DOC file extension

Microsoft Word Document

Text Files

FLV file extension

Flash Video File

Video Files

HTML file extension

Hypertext Markup Language File

Web Files

KML file extension

Keyhole Markup Language File

GIS Files

MIM file extension

Multi-Purpose Internet Mail Message File

Encoded Files

MOV file extension

Apple QuickTime Movie

Video Files

MP4 file extension

MPEG-4 Video File

Video Files

PART file extension

Partially Downloaded File

Misc Files

RPM file extension

Red Hat Package Manager File

Compressed Files

3DM file extension

Rhino 3D Model

3D Image Files