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

ASPX file extension

Active Server Page Extended File

Web Files

CPL file extension

Windows Control Panel Item

System Files

CUE file extension

Cue Sheet File

Disk Image Files

EPS file extension

Encapsulated PostScript File

Vector Image Files

FLV file extension

Flash Video File

Video Files

GIF file extension

Graphical Interchange Format File

Raster Image Files

LNK file extension

Windows File Shortcut

System Files

MDB file extension

Microsoft Access Database

Database Files

MOBI file extension

Mobipocket eBook

eBook Files

ODT file extension

OpenDocument Text Document

Text Files

PCT file extension

Picture File

Layout Files

RM file extension

Real Media File

Video Files

VB file extension

VBScript File

Executable Files

XLS file extension

Excel Spreadsheet

Spreadsheet Files

7Z file extension

7-Zip Compressed File

Compressed Files