File Extensions Reference

A reference of common file extensions and the formats they represent, documents, images, audio and video, archives, and code and data files.

A file extension is the part of a filename after the last dot. It hints at the file's format and tells your operating system which app to open it with. The extension does not change the actual contents, renaming a .png to .jpg does not convert it.

Documents & text

ExtensionFormat
.txtPlain text
.pdfPortable Document Format
.doc / .docxMicrosoft Word
.xls / .xlsxMicrosoft Excel spreadsheet
.ppt / .pptxMicrosoft PowerPoint
.odtOpenDocument text
.rtfRich Text Format
.mdMarkdown
.csvComma-separated values
.epubE-book format

Images

ExtensionFormat
.jpg / .jpegCompressed photo (lossy)
.pngLossless image with transparency
.gifAnimated / simple images
.webpModern web image format
.svgScalable vector graphic (XML)
.heicApple high-efficiency photo
.tiffHigh-quality print image
.bmpUncompressed bitmap
.icoIcon (favicons)

Audio & video

ExtensionFormat
.mp3Compressed audio
.wavUncompressed audio
.flacLossless audio
.aac / .m4aAdvanced Audio Coding
.mp4Video (H.264/H.265)
.movApple QuickTime video
.mkvMatroska video container
.webmOpen web video
.aviLegacy video container

Archives & disk

ExtensionFormat
.zipCompressed archive
.tarUncompressed Unix archive
.gzGzip-compressed file
.tar.gz / .tgzGzipped tarball
.7z7-Zip archive (high ratio)
.rarRAR archive
.isoDisc image
.dmgApple disk image

Code & data

ExtensionFormat
.htmlWeb page markup
.cssStylesheet
.js / .tsJavaScript / TypeScript
.pyPython script
.jsonJavaScript Object Notation
.xmlExtensible Markup Language
.yaml / .ymlYAML config
.sqlSQL script
.shShell script
.exeWindows executable

To see file extensions, enable them in your file manager (Windows Explorer and macOS Finder hide them by default). Be cautious with executables (.exe, .sh, .bat) from untrusted sources.

What this does

A file extensions reference maps common extensions to the formats they represent — documents, images, audio and video, archives, and code and data files.

How to use it

  1. Find an extension.
  2. Read the format it represents.
  3. Note the category.
  4. Copy the extension with one tap.

Example

.csv is a plain-text spreadsheet of comma-separated values.

Sources & methodology

Last updated .

Frequently asked questions

Does changing a file extension convert the file?

No. The extension only labels the format; renaming a .png to .jpg does not convert the contents. Use a real converter to change a file’s format.

Why can’t I see file extensions?

Windows Explorer and macOS Finder hide them by default. Enable "file name extensions" in the view settings to show them.

Which extensions should I be cautious with?

Executable types such as .exe, .bat, and .sh can run code. Only open them from sources you trust.