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File Formats with Types and Extensions

Last Updated : 27 Jul, 2025
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File Formats store a large variety of raw information in a structured format so that the data can be easily stored, processed, and harnessed. A file format is a standard way of storing data in a computer file. There are multiple types of file formats present which can be used to store and retrieve data efficiently. We will discuss the unique features and use cases for different kinds of file formats and compare them.

  • Defines how data is structured and stored in a file.
  • Many types of file formats exist to serve different needs.
  • Each format is designed to handle specific types of data, such as text, images, or audio.
  • The right file format helps with easy storage, retrieval, and processing of data.

Text File Formats

Text file formats are some of the most basic and widely used formats for storing textual data. They don’t include additional formatting or media. These formats are easily editable and can be opened with any text editor.

ExtensionFull FormDescription
.txtPlain TextThe most basic text file format, containing only ASCII characters and carriage returns to separate lines.
.rtfRich Text FormatA more advanced text file format that allows basic formatting like bold, italics, and font styles.
.docxWord Open XML DocumentCommonly used by Microsoft Word for storing and saving documents
.csvComma-Separated ValuesA simple format for storing tabular data, with each row representing a data record and commas separating fields.
.docWord DocumentUsed for word processing documents stored in Microsoft Word Binary File Format
.wpsWPS Office Word DocumentA proprietary document file format developed by Kingsoft Office.
.wpdWordPerfect DocumentA document file format associated with WordPerfect, a word processing software.

.msg


Message

Microsoft Outlook message format; contains email messages with formatting, attachments, and other information.

Image File Formats

Image file formats determine how pictures are saved and shown. Choosing the right format affects the file size, quality, and how well it works with different devices, especially for photography, websites, and design.

Extension Full FormDescription
.jpgJoint Photographic Experts GroupA lossy compression format that is commonly used for photographs and other images with a lot of detail.
.pngPortable Network GraphicsA lossless compression format that is commonly used for images with sharp edges or text.
.webpWeb Picture FormatIt Supports both lossy and lossless image compression with support of 24-bit RGB color.
.gifGraphics Interchange FormatThe limited-color format is commonly used for animations and small images.
.tifTagged Image File FormatHigh-quality format that is commonly used for professional photography and printing.
.bmpBitmapAn uncompressed format that is commonly used by Microsoft Windows.
.epsEncapsulated PostScript fileA vector format that is commonly used for print graphics.

Audio File Formats

Audio files come in different formats based on how much they need to be compressed, their quality, and file size. Whether you need top-quality sound or streaming, there are many formats to pick from.

ExtensionFull FormDescription
.mp3MP3 Audio FileCommonly used for storing and distributing music.
.wma

Windows Media Audio

Developed by Microsoft for audio compression, often used for streaming and downloading music.
.sndSoundA generic file extension for sound files, often associated with audio data.
.wavWAVE Audio FileCommonly used for storing and recording audio.
.raRealAudioIt's a playlist file format that is commonly used for storing and distributing playlists.

.au

Audio

Used for storing audio data, commonly associated with Sun Microsystems.

.aac

Advanced Audio Coding

Used as an in-vogue sound field design for packed virtual sound and tune data.

Video File Formats

Video files need special formats to store both the video and audio. Knowing the different video formats can help you pick the best one for quality, file size, and compatibility.

ExtensionFull FormDescription
.mp4MPEG-4 Video FileMultimedia container format that commonly stores video and audio data.
.3gp3GPP Multimedia FileMultimedia container format that is commonly used for mobile phones.
.aviAudio Video Interleave FileAn older multimedia container format that is still supported by many devices.
.mpgMPEG Video FileOlder video compression format that is still supported by some devices.
.movApple QuickTime MovieThe format that is commonly used by Apple devices.
.wmvWindows Media Video File The format that is commonly used by Microsoft devices.

Program File Formats

These formats are used to store source code and scripts written in various programming languages. They allow developers to write, compile, and run programs.

Extension  Full FormDescription
.cC/C++ Source Code FileGeneral-purpose programming language developed by Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs between 1969 and 1972.
.cppC++ source Code FileA general-purpose programming language developed by Bjarne Stroustrup as an extension to the C programming language.
.javaJava Source Code FileProgramming language created by Sun Microsystems that is now owned by Oracle Corporation.
.pyPython script The programming language was developed by Guido van Rossum and first released in 1991.
.jsJavaScriptA scripting language that is primarily used to add interactivity to web pages.
.tsTypeScriptA superset of JavaScript that adds optional static typing.
.csC# Ssource Code FileA programming language developed by Microsoft as part of the .NET framework.
.swiftSwift Source Code FileProgramming language developed by Apple for developing iOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and Linux applications
.dtaDocument Type Definition FileA data storage format commonly used by Stata, a statistical software program.
.plPerl ScriptA programming language developed by Larry Wall at the University of California, Santa Cruz in the early 1980s.
.shBash Shell ScriptA shell scripting language commonly used to automate tasks on Unix-like operating systems

.bat

Batch file

Batch file format used to automate tasks on Windows systems; contains a series of commands to be executed by the command interpreter.

.com

Command file

A COM file is an executable file format used for programs on older Windows systems. COM files have limited functionality compared to modern formats.

.exe

Executable file

An executable file is a type of computer file that contains compiled code that can be run directly by the operating system. Executable files are commonly used to run programs.

Compressed/Archive File Formats

Compressed or archive file formats reduce the size of files and group multiple files into one archive. These formats are used for file transfer and storage efficiency.

ExtensionFull FormDescription
.rarWinRAR Compressed ArchiveA proprietary file archiver developed by Eugene Roshal.
.zipZipped FileA lossless data compression format that packages multiple files into a single archive file.
.hqxBinHexA Macintosh binary-to-text encoding format, often used to transfer binary files through email.
.arjArchived by Robert JungA file compression format, similar to ZIP and RAR, used to compress and archive files.
.tarCompressed Tarball FileThis file archiving format groups multiple files into a single archive file.

.arc

ARC archive file

An ARC file is an archive file format used for compressing and storing files. ARC is an outdated format and has been replaced by ZIP and other newer options.

.sit

StuffIt archive file

A SIT file is an archive file format used on Macintosh systems. SIT is similar to ARC but is specific to Macs.

.gz

GZIP compressed file

A GZ file is a file format created with gzip compression. Gzip shrinks the size of files for storage and transmission.

.z

Compressed file

A Z file is a compressed file format associated with the "compress" compression program on Unix systems.

Web page File Formats

Web page file formats are used to create and style web pages. They include markup languages, style sheets, and scripts that determine how web pages are structured and presented.

Extension  Full FormDescription
.htmlHyperText Markup Language FileHTML is the standard markup language for creating web pages.

.htm

HyperText Markup Language File

Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) document format with the less common file extension; identical to .html files.

.xhtmlExtensible Hypertext markup language FileThis is a markup language that combines HTML with XML.
.aspActive Server pageA web development technology that allows developers to create dynamic web pages using server-side scripting.
.cssCascading Style SheetThis is a style sheet language used to describe the presentation of a web page.
.aspxActive Server Page Extended FileThis allows developers to create dynamic web pages using server-side scripting in ASP.NET.
.rssRich Site SummaryThis is a web feed format that allows users to subscribe to updates from websites.

Features of File Formats

  • Structure Data: File Formats have a basic structure of how data should be stored in the file.
  • Extension: Extensions are useful so that the operating system can check which type of file is being used.
  • Metadata: This is the data that stores useful information about the file such as author name, license, etc.
  • Interoperability: This feature enables multiple systems to use the same file format.

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