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List of File Formats with Types and Extensions

Last Updated : 04 Mar, 2024
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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 on 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.

File Formats

As the technology is growing it has become more important to save the data in an organised and structured manner.

Table of Content

Most Used file formats

Explore a wide range of common file formats and learn how to work with them effectively.

  • Text: This type of file contains only text without any formatting and can be opened with any text editor.
    Different types of text formats include: .doc, .docx, .rtf, .pdf, .wpd
  • Image: This file type includes binary information about images and defines how the image will be stored and compressed.
    Different types of Image File Format include: .JPEG, .PNG, .GIF, .HEIF
  • Audio: This type of file format stores audio data. It stores raw data in an encoded format and uses codec to perform compression and decompression.
    Different types of Audio file formats include .aac, .mp3, .wav
  • Video: This type of file format contains digital video data. It performs lossy compression to store video data where audio and video are separately encoded and stored.
    Different types of Video File Formats include: .amv, .mpeg, .flv, .avi
  • Program: These file formats store codes that can be run on the computer through compiling or interpreting.
    Different types of Programming File Formats include: .c, .java, .py, .js
  • Compressed/Archive: These files store data in a compressed format on the computer and can be used to easily transport data between computers. These files need to be decompressed before use.
    Different types of Compressed File Formats include: .iso, .rar, .tar, .7z
  • Web page: These files include information related to the website, web pages, and server. these generally include programming scripts for static or dynamic web pages. 
    Different types of Web Page File Format include: .html, .asp, .css, .xps.

Recent File format published articles.

Text File Formats

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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Text File Formats

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