File Extensions
AVI:- Audio Video Input extension files (These files are run by
the Windows Media Player and
Multimedia Program).
{These files are made by any multimedia program or Moviemaker
Software}.
ASX:- Streaming Audio/Video Shortcut extension files (These
files are also run by Media Player
or any other
multimedia program but they are the list or shortcut of the songs and
multimedia
files). {Commonly they are used on the internet for long and big multimedia
files which
requires more time to download}.
ASF:- Streaming Audio/Video File extension files (Same as ASX
extension files).
ASP:- Active Server Page extension files (These files are used
by Web browsers, they are used
to change the
style or update the web online directly (sometime by the user).They are
used for online
forms, questions, answes, e-mail checking and
composing and polling and
voting). {The
main purpose of using these files is that it is changed at the current
time, on the
online and users are free to modify or change the file. It has the ability
to update
automatically on the same time in the web.}
ARC:- ARChived extension files (These
files needs to be unarchived, these contains
many
files it means that
it is an archived file & contains many smaller files within it. It is
used to compress
all the files to their minimum sizes so they will fit on to the disk(s)
in which you
saved. You must extract the files with a special program for running. The
program most
commonly used is called "PKXARC.EXE". They provide both grouping and
compression).{In
windows WinZIP and WinRAR
are also used to extract these files}.
ANI:- ANImated cursor extension files
(These files are used by Windows to animate the cursor on
the windows
GUI). {This animation is like a small movie and the mouse pointer is changed
its shape
according to the movie (but it runs only in 16-bits or above colors system)}.
ARJ:- ARJ and LZH extension files (These are older formats that
provide both grouping and
compression,
like Zip files. Unlike other supported file formats, WinZip’s optional
support for
these formats requires external programs that are not included as part of the
WinZip Program. You must extract the files
with a special program for running. The
program most
commonly used is called "PKARJ.EXE" and “PKLZH.EXE”). {ARC is also
included
in these
extensions}.
AU:- Audio Unit
extension files (These files are same as mp3 and wav but more compressible
format and used
in the Internet).
BAS:- BASic language extension files
(These files are made by Basic language interpreter
(GWBASIC), compilers(QBASIC,
VISUAL BASIC, TURBO BASIC and BASICA). {These files are the
programs (source
code) of Basic language}.
BAT:- BATch extension files (These
extension files are those files that are also run directly
from the
operating system and these files are made by user for his system and for
controlling the
different files). {Mainly these files are the simple programs which only
needs any editor
to edit and modify them}. (These languages are called operating system
languages
JCL “Job Control Language”).
BAK:- BAcKup extension files (These
files are made by any word processor, operating system or
any type of
creating program in which the previous work, data, style and shape of an old
file is recorded).
BIN:- BINary extension files (These
files are the binary files which are used by different
types of TSRs and disk managing system programs). {Infect every
computer program or
program file is
the binary file except source or text files}.
BMP:- BitMaP image extension files
(These files contains graphic pictures and run by any
graphics viewer,
Mainly they are used by Microsoft Windows Paint program).{These files
are the default
image files of Microsoft Windows}.
BFC:- BrieFCase extension files
(Briefcase case files are used by Windows Briefcase program to
synchronize the
old files stored only in briefcase folder).
CDF:- Channel extension files (These files are used by
Microsoft Internet Explorer to run the
channel from its
specific website. It runs like a TV Channel).
COM:- COMmand extension files (These
files are also run directly from the operating system but
these files are
the command interpreters or memory
resident programs “TSRs”){These
files are run by
Microsoft DOS only}.
CFG:- ConFiGuration extension files
(These files are used to control some programs that how
they execute in
system requirements. They have different formats some are binary form or
some are in text
form).{same as INI files}.
CPL:- Control Panel extension files(These files are used by
windows Control Panel program to
control device
drivers and current windows settings).
CDA:- Compact Disk Audio extension files (These files are used
by CD audio player). {They are
originally
Audio-CDs which are played in CD-Player. Every CD has 15 tracks (Sound Tracks)
in which one
song is recorded with high quality sound which is called “CD Quality”}.
CHM:- Compiled HtMl extension files
(These files are used by Help programs to show the help in
Web-style or in HTML
formats).
CUR:- CURsor extension files (These
files are used by windows to show the mouse pointer in its
GUI). {The mouse
pointer you see on the screen is showed by cursor file}.
CSS:- Cascading Style Sheet document extension files (These
files are used by Microsoft Front
Page program for making
the web pages in a stylish manner with themes).
CAB:- Microsoft CABinet extension
files (These files are used by windows setup programs for
manage,
compress, grouping and storing many
files in one file to make a cabinet file).
{WinZip is used to open and extract files
the contents of CAB files. WinZip will handle
most
self-extracting CAB files. WinZip does not use external programs when working
with
CAB files}.
CAT:- Security CATolog extension
files (These files are used by Windows for the certificate of
hardware and
peripheral devices. These files contains useful, identification and
signature
information about hardware). {They are digitally signed by the manufacturer to
run the hardware
properly}.
CPP:- CPlusPlus extension files
(These files are made by C language compiler program called
VISUAL-C, TURBO-C and C++){It has also an another extension "C",”C++”}.
(Basically these
files are the
source code of C language).
DIB:- Dither In Bitmap extension files (These extension files
are same as Windows Bitmap BMP
but they have
old formats than BMP and slightly different from BMP).
DIZ:- DIZ and DIC extension files (These extension files are
text files and have useful
information
about program or documents).
DOC:- DOCument extension files (These
files are also contain basic skills and information about
original
software products. The DOC files are edited by Windows WordPad and Ms-Word).
{Same as TXT files}.
DRV:- DRiVer extension files (These
extension files are used to install display sound or some
other drivers
for special purpose by a special software or program which is programmed
for these
drivers).
DOS:- MsDOS extension files (These
files are made by windows 95 operating system when windows
is installed. These are originally msdos
backup system files, which are running in msdos
mode).
DAT:- DATa extension files (These
files consists of ASCII code programming which are used by
large executable
programs and softwares for their accessing). {The another is Digital
Audio Tape extension files (These files
are used by multimedia or songs system to stores
the high quality
multimedia, movies or songs stored in these files)}.
DLL:- Dynamic Link Library extension files (These files contain
special features about some
windows based
applications and data like icons, multiprocessing and multi-sharing
capabilities).
{These files are used by many windows programs and at one time one file is
used by several
different programs}.
DUN:- Dial-Up Networking extension files (These files are used
by Windows to connect to the
Internet via network or
ISP connection). {These files are used by the Dial-Up Networking
program to
record network configurations and details of ISP’s setting to connect to the
Internet}.
EPS:- Encapsulated PostScript extension files (These files are the PostScript graphics file
format developed by Adobe Systems. EPS enables PostScript graphics files to be
incorporated into other documents).
EMF:- Enhanced Meta Format extension files (These files are
used by Windows Picture and Image
Programs and Microsoft Office Application
to insert an advanced graphics in the document
and slide show).
EXE:- EXEcutable extension files
(These files run directly with the operating system. Mainly
this file
extension is used by Microsoft Windows and Microsoft DOS). (Actually command
Interpreters or supervisors (Kernel or
executive)are used to run this type of files}.
(These files are in the binary format and
the actual program or output of the source code
by language
compilers). {Mainly in Ms-Dos these files are run by “COMMAND.COM” and in
Ms-Windows “EXPLORER.EXE”}.
EML:- E-MaiL extension files (These
files used by E-mail programs like Microsoft Outlook
Express).
and animation
program of web program Macromedia Flash). {SPA is also Flash Movie Library
file}.
FON:- FONt extension files (These
files contain different types of writing and printing styles
or formats).
FRX:- Visual Basic Form binary extension files (These files are
used by Visual Basic for making
binary file for
its Form file).
FRM:- FoRM registration extension
files (These files are used for registration for older
DOS programs which registered the
information about user in the form file). (But today
they are used by
Visual Basic for its Forms so it is called Visual Basic FoRM
extension
files in which
the objects are shown).
GRP:- GRouP extension files (These
extension files are used by Windows 3.0 and 3.1 program
manager for
making the groups or file folders).
GIF:- Graphics Interchange Format extension files (These files
are same as BMP files). {They
are also called
CompuServe Inc Graphics Interchange Format files because they have the
ability to
animate the image like movie files and another feature is that they have very
small size and
compressible data.}
GAM:- GAMe extension files (These
files are used by games to save the data where the player
last played the
game). {Same as and See SAV extension files).
HLP:- HeLP extension files (These
files contain basic tips, skills and help for using the
program in the
right manner). {There are two type of Help Files one for DOS and run by
“COMMAND.COM” or any other help
executable and in Windows it is always run by
“WINHELP32.EXE” or
Windows Help program}.
HTML:-Hyper
Text Markup Language extension files (These extension files are used by
Internet
browsers for the
interaction of user and fast accessing, downloading and browsing. They
are used in
websites for file system}. {HTA(Hyper Text
Application)and HTT (Hyper Text
Template) are also used by Internet
Explorer and websites}. (They have many features like
fast
downloading, fast accessing, easy and readable programming, minimum space and
compress volume
and powerful to show every thing and runs every program).
H:- C language Header
extension files (These files are used by the C, C++, Turbo-C and Visual
C compilers to include
more ability in their programs).
IFF:- EA/Amiga Interchange
File Format extension files (Same as BMP and JPG but slightly
different).
INI:- INItialization extension files
(These files are used for initialization for some programs
that how they
execute by specified methods and settings).
INF:- INFormation extension files
(These files are also same as TXT, DOC, CFG and INI files but
these files are
run only by a windows setup program which setting up a new program or
software on your
computer).
INS:- INternet Settings extension
files (These files are used by Microsoft Internet Explorer to
setup the
application through the Internet or online).
ISP:- Internet Service Provider extension files (These files
contain information and data about
communication
settings and ISP regional settings).
ICO:- ICOn extension files (These
files show the icon of program or any type of file in the
windows GUI.
These files are the small pictures used by the windows to represent the
files by their
extension types).
JPEG:-Joint
Photographic Experts Group extension files (These files are also same as GIF
and
BMP files but they have very high,
compression and original or true colors capability).
These files are usually used in Internet
and websites for large images. JFIF {JPEG File
Interchange Format), JPG, JPE are the
JPEG file extensions).
JS:- Java Script
extension files (These files are used by Windows Scripting Host program to
run various
tasks. These files are in the text format and some times used by HTML files
for special
effects and animations on the web).
JSE:- Java Script Encoded extension files (These files are same
as Windows Scripting file but
have some
advanced features and more powerful programming capabilities).
KDC KoDak extension
files (These files are in the form of the full image and the embedded
Thumbnail just like JPG
and GIF).
LBM:- Large BitMap extension files
(These files are the old types of picture files used by Ms-
DOS programs).
LOG:- LOG extension files (These files are made by disk
controlling utilities, servers and
administrating
programs which gives information about specified tasks for their
errors and
running tasks. These files are in the text format and can be viewed by any
text editor).
LST:- LiST extension files (These
files are used by some anti-virus programs for checking
viruses because
these files contains a wide variety of virus's name and details).
LGO:- LoGO Program extension files
(These files are used by the children’s programming
language called
“LOGO”).
LIB:- LIBrary extension files (These
files are used by language compilers when any source
program is
written in that language is compiled for checking syntax and runtime errors
and for
different functions and features).
LNK:- Window’s shortcut LiNK
extension files (These files are used by Microsoft Windows 95 and
above to create
shortcut of the applications through these files on the desktop and in
Start Menu folder).
MIME:-Multipurpose
Internet Mail Extensions , IME, UUencoded, XXencoded, and BinHex (These file
extension or
formats are used primarily to transfer binary files by Internet e-mail.
WinZIP is used
to extract these type of files. UUencode an archive
using the UUencode
entry in the
WinZip Actions pull-down menu. WinZip does not use external programs when
working with
files in these formats).
MS :-
MicroSoft extension files (These files are made by a
Microsoft disk controlling programs
and they stored
the FAT information about the disk and and file table
information into
these
files).
MPEG:-Media
Player Enhanced Graphics extension files (These files are the multimedia files
and
compressible
than DAT and AVI files. But they have not a quality picture like that in DAT
and AVI files).
MP3:-
Media Player 3 extension files (These files are used in audio songs recording
and played
by any
multimedia or audio sound player. They are in the compressible form and very
small
as compared to
WAV extension files).
MOD:- MODe extension files (These
files are used for windows 3.0 and 3.10 which sets the
current windows mode, that is standard mode and 386 enhanced
mode). (These files are
also used by
Visual Basic for its MODule {source programming}).
MIDI:-Musical
Instrument Digital Interface extension files (These files are used by music
synthesizers for sound recording. They are also in
compressible forms and used in
Internet and websites.){MID
is also the extension of MIDI).
MOV:- MOVie extension files (These
files are used by Microsoft Quick Time Player).
MSI:- Microsoft Installer package extension files (These files
are used by Microsoft windows
setup programs
to setup Microsoft Products on the user’s computer).
MSP:- Microsoft installer Patch extension files (These files
are used by Microsoft windows
setup programs
to correct errors in Microsoft Products during installation on the users
computer).
NWS:- NeWS extension files (These
files are used by any Internet E-mail program to display the
news from the
web sever through the online in the screen of user).
NFO:- INFOrmation extension files
(These files are used in old DOS based programs for the
Help and information
about that program. Some time these files are used in windows).
OBJ:- OBJect extension files (These
files are made by language compiler when source program is
making to
executable form, first they made the program file into object file then make it
into executable
file).
OCX:- Object aCtiveX extension files
(These files are created by Visual Basic for windows
applications without them windows cannot run some visual
application, they are the part
of the visual
applications. They contain information and visual structures of windows
application’s
API and GUI).
PNG:- Portable Network Graphics extension files (These files
are also same as BMP JPEG
extension files
and have a compressible used in internet and office applications. Same as
GIF).
PIF:- PIF extension files (These files are run only in windows
operating systems and just like
a executable and
command files, but they are the shortcut of MS-DOS files like LNK
windows shortcut
files).
PIC:- PICture extension files (These
files are also same as BMP files but they are made by PC
Paintbrush, PC Paint
Plus, picture and GRASP softwares [old DOS
programs]).
PCX:- PCX extension files (These files are same as PIC files
but they are made by some more
softwares
such as ZSoft Paintbrush).
PAS:- PAScal language extension files
(These files are made by a Pascal language compilers
PASCAL and
TURBO-PASCAL).
PWD:- PassWorD extension files (These
files are made by password manager and stored the current
password of the user in the file). {Basically this file extensions are used by only
Microsoft Windows 95 and above}. (Other
password files are used for different security
purposes like
CGI and PL in web servers).
PCD Kodak Photo Compact Disk extension files
(These extension files are high quality pictures
and images saved
on CD just like audio songs on audio CD).
PSD Adobe PhotoShop Document extension files
(These files supported RGB, grayscale, duotone,
paletted
and bi-level, Lab color interpreted as grayscale features. These files are used
by Adobe
Photoshop Program).
QT:- Quick Time
extension files (These files are also run by Microsoft Quick Time Player).
RMI:- RMIdi sequence extension files
(These files are used by the MIDI players to store MIDI
features and
settings).
RAR:- WinRAR extension files (These
files are used by file compressors like WinRAR and WinZIP
for compressing
and grouping. It works same as ZIP files but it has more features like
multimedia
compression and restoring the corrupted file). {“PKXRAR.EXE” of DOS also used
to compress or
uncompress the file}.
RAS:- RASter graphics format
extension file (These files are developed by Sun Microsystems).
RPG:- Report Program Generator extension files (These files are
made by a Report Program
Generator language
compiler).
RAT:- RATing extension files (These
files are used by Internet Rating systems for controlling
the data of
restricted or bad websites. They have rating information about websites on
the internet).
RLE:- The Picture extension files (Same as BMP, JPG, GIF Format
files).
REG:- Registration extension files (These files are same as FRM
files but these files are
registered only
the name of user who registered the software for his/her use and used by
old DOS
programs). (In windows this extension is used by Windows Registry Editor
Program
to merge and
enter new registry entries and settings in Microsoft Windows Registry).
RTF:- Rich Text Format extension files (These files contains
the text in high quality and best
fonts but the
special feature is that they have compressible format and used by Help
files and some
Windows application to show high quality text in their GUI).
SCR:- SCReen saver extension files
(These files are the screen savers used in windows when
mouse and
keyboard does not moved by the user for saving power consumption and Screen
braking).
SAV:- SAVe extension files (These
files are made by games program when user wants to save on a
specified level
the game and next time start the game with the same level or same score).
SYS:- SYStem extension files (These
files are the system and memory resident programs which
controls the
hardware devices drivers and their relationship between softwares).
SMD:- Kygen and Genycyst
game emulator program extension files (These files are used by Sega
game emulators
to run the game in the DOS).
SHS:- Scrap object extension files (These files are made from
dragging any graphics or text on
the desktop or
any folder’s desktop in windows GUI. This is called “Scrap Objects”).
SHB:- Shortcut into a Document (Same as SHS but the difference
is that it is a shortcut).
SWP:- SWaP extension files (These
files are made by languages compiler for DOS shell and
windows is used
these files for storing important data into the files). {Some timework
as Temporary
files}.
SGI SGI Image Format extension files (These files
are the picture and image files like RLE
and LBM, PCX;
old DOS formats).
SWF:- Flash player movie Extension files (These files are run
by Macromedia Flash Player and
they are also
run by Internet Explorer when they are in HTML format). {SPL is another
extension}.
SCP:- Dial-up networking SCriPt
extension files (These are the script files which demonstrate
how to establish
a connection with a host or ISP. These files are in the text format and
have programming
or information about your ISP and procedure of connecting).
SND:- SouND extension files (These
files are same as AU extension files but slightly
different).
TAR:- Tape ARchive, Z, GZ, TAZ, and
TGZ extension files (These files are often found on Unix
based Internet
sites. The TAR format does not provide compression it is used only to
group files. GZ
and Z files are GZip files. GZ and Z files cannot contain multiple
files. TAZ and
TGZ files are TAR files compressed in the GZip
format. Since almost all
new archives are
created in Zip format, WinZip does not provide facilities to add to or
create files in
these formats. WinZip does not use external programs when working with
files in these
formats).
TMP:- TeMPorary extension files
(These files are made by setup programs during the installation
of programs and
they stored important data about setup temporary in this file). {These
files are
deleted by the same setup program when installation is completed but some time
they remain on
the computer}.
TXT:- TeXT extension files (These
files contains basic information about programs or files)
{These files are edit by DOS program
“EDIT.EXE” or windows “NOTEPAD.EXE”}.
TTF:- True Type Font extension files (These files contain true
type fonts for displaying and
printing ){same
as FON files but more enhanced and advanced than ordinary font file}.
TGA:- TarGA extension files (These
are same as JPG files){True vision TarGA file
format}.
TIFF:-Tag
Image File Format extension files (These files are same as TarGA
files [Tag Based
File Format{Aldus
tag-based file format}]).
URL:- Uniform Resource Location extension files (These files
are used and only run by Internet
Web Browser).
VBS:- Visual Basic Script extension files (Same as JS files).
VBE:- Visual Basic script Encoded extension files (Same as JSE
files).
VBG:- Visual Basic Group project extension files (These
extension files are made by Visual
Basic for Large projects in one group).
VBP:- Visual Basic Project extension files (These extension
files are the projects files in
which many forms
“FRM”, binary information of form “FRX” and module “MOD” files are
included to form
a single Windows application).
WMF:- Windows Metafile Format extension files (These files are
the small single cartoon image
like pictures
which are called “Clip arts” and are in compressible formats with few
colors. These
files are used to insert clip arts in office documents).
WIN:- WINdows extension files (These
files are special device drivers used by windows and they
are made by
different programs).
WAV:- WAVe sound extension files
(These files are sound and music files used by Microsoft
Window for sound recording and for
different sound based special features).
WRI:- WRIte extension files (These
files are made by Windows 3.0 and 3.1 Write program). {They
are also edited,
used and opened by Word Pad}.
WAB:- Website Address Book extension files (These files are
used by E-mail address book program
to store the
location of website address and e-mail address of other users).
WSC:- Windows Scripting Component extension files (These files
are used by Windows Scripting
Host program).
WSH:- Windows Scripting Host Settings extension files (Sama as WSC).
XLS:- Microsoft eXceLS extension
files
ZIP:- PkZIP and WinZIP
program extension files (These files are those files which are zipped
and compressed
by pkzip and WinZip utilities and programs).{They
need "PKUNZIP.EXE" or
"WINZIP.EXE" programs to
extract}. (ZIP files can span multiple disks, and provide both
compression and
file grouping).
286:-
Virtual device driver 286 and 386 extension files (These files are used by
Windows
Kernel or supervisor
programs).
3gr:-
Microsoft virtual machine manager 32GRabber library extension files (These
files are used
by Windows
kernel and supervisor programs)[2gr are also).
???:-
User extension files (These files are given by user for its related
specifications and
some programs
are give their own program related extensions).
.??_:-????????.??_
extension files (WinZip also handles most files in the
old Microsoft
Compress format (also known as LZEXPAND
format). However, there are several variations on
this format, and
Microsoft has not released documentation on these variations. Microsoft
Compress files usually end with a
trailing underscore, for example, “COMMAND.CO_”. Like
Z and GZ files, Microsoft Compress format
files contain only one file. This format is
used for many
files on the Windows 3.1 distribution disks and many older Microsoft
products. Note
that not all files ending with an underscore are Microsoft Compress format
files. WinZip
does not use external programs when working with files in these formats).
{Another program is Microsoft DOS is
“EXPAND.EXE” for uncompress these files}.