List of file formats

This is an incomplete list, which may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

See also: List of file formats (alphabetical)

This is a list of file formats organized by type, as can be found on computers. Filename extensions are usually noted in parentheses if they differ from the format name or abbreviation. In theory, using the basic Latin alphabet (A–Z) and a three character extension, the number of combinations amounts to 17,576 (26³). If other acceptable characters are included, the maximum number of combinations is 195,112 (26+31)³. Unix-like systems don't have extensions, and Microsoft Windows NT, 95, 98, and Me don't have a three character limit on extensions for 32-bit or 64-bit applications on file systems other than pre-Windows 95/Windows NT 3.5 versions of the FAT file system, so some file system types are given extensions longer than three characters.

Archive and compressed

Main article: List of archive formats

• .?Q? – files compressed by the SQ program.
• 7z – 7-Zip compressed file
• AAC- Advanced Audio Coding
• ace – ACE compressed file
• ALZ – ALZip compressed file
• AT3 – Sony's UMD Data compression
• .bke – BackupEarth.com Data compression
• ARC
• ARJ – ARJ compressed file
• BA – Scifer Archive (.ba), Scifer External Archive Type
• big – Special file compression format used by Electronic Arts for compressing the data for many of EA's games
• BIK (.bik) – Bink Video file. A video compression system developed by RAD Game Tools
• BKF (.bkf) – Microsoft backup created by NTBACKUP.EXE
• bzip2 – (.bz2)
• bmp – (paint)
• c4 – JEDMICS image files, a DOD system
• cab – Microsoft Cabinet
• cals – JEDMICS image files, a DOD system
• cpt/sea – Compact Pro (Macintosh)
• DAA – Closed-format, Windows-only compressed disk image
• deb – Debian Linux install package
• DMG – an Apple compressed/encrypted format
• EEA – An encrypted CAB, ostensibly for protecting email attachments
• .egg – Alzip Egg Edition compressed file
• EGT (.egt) – EGT Universal Document also used to create compressed cabinet files replaces .ecab
• ECAB (.ECAB, .ezip) – EGT Compressed Folder used in advanced systems to compress entire system folders, replaced by EGT Universal Document
• ESS (.ess) – EGT SmartSense File, detects files compressed using the EGT compression system.
• GHO (.gho, .ghs) – Norton Ghost
• gzip (.gz) – Compressed file
• IPG (.ipg) – Format in which Apple Inc. packages their iPod games. can be extracted through Winrar
• jar – ZIP file with manifest for use with Java applications.
• LBR – Library file
• LQR – LBR Library file compressed by the SQ program.
• LHA (.lzh) – Lempel, Ziv, Huffman
• lzo
• lzma
• LZX (algorithm)
• MBRWizard archive (.mbw)
• MPQ Archives (.mpq) – Used by Blizzard games
• MacBinary (.bin)
• NTH (.nth) – Nokia Theme Used by Nokia Series 40 Cellphones
• PAK – Enhanced type of .ARC archive
• Parchive (.par, .par2)
• Quake 3 archive (.pk3) – (See note on Doom³)
• Doom³ archive (.pk4) – (Opens similarly to a zip archive.)
• RAR Rar Archive (.rar) – for multiple file archive (rar to .r01-.r99 to s01 and so on)
• SEN Scifer Archive (.sen) – Scifer Internal Archive Type
• sit/sitx – StuffIt (Macintosh)
• tar
• .tar.gz, .tgz – gzipped tar file
• TB (.tb) – Tabbery Virtual Desktop Tab file
• TIB (.tib) – Acronis True Image backup
• uha – Ultra High Archive Compression
• VIV – Archive format used to compress data for several video games, including Need For Speed: High Stakes.
• VOL – unknown archive
• VSA – Altiris Virtual Software Archive
• WAX – Wavexpress - A ZIP alternative optimized for packages containing video, allowing multiple packaged files to be all-or-none delivered with near-instantaneous unpacking via NTFS file system manipulation.
• Z – Unix compress file
• zoo
• zip

Encryption and encrypted

Main article: List of encryption formats

• GXK – Galaxkey - An Encryption platform optimized for authorized, private and confidential email communication containing formatted text and attachments, allowing multiple packaged files over current email platforms. Works on windows 32/64 and in 2012 will support Linux, iOS, Mac, Windows 8 and more.

Physical recordable media archiving

• ISO – The generic file format for most optical media, including CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, Blu-ray Disc, HD DVD and UMD. ISO images indicate write directives, while .bin files that usually accompany such files contain the actual data.
• NRG – The proprietary optical media archive format used by Nero applications.
• IMG – For archiving MS-DOS formatted floppy disks.
• ADF – Amiga Disk Format, for archiving Amiga floppy disks

• ADZ – The GZip-compressed version of ADF.
• DMS – Disk Masher System, a disk-archiving system native to the Amiga.

• DSK – For archiving floppy disks from a number of other platforms, including the ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC.
• D64 – An archive of a Commodore 64 floppy disk.
• SDI – System Deployment Image, used for archiving and providing "virtual disk" functionality.
• MDS – DAEMON tools native disc image file format used for making images from optical CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, HD DVD or Blu-ray Disc. It comes together with MDF file and can be mounted with DAEMON Tools or Alcohol 120% software.
• MDX – New DAEMON Tools file format that allows to get one MDX disc image file instead of two (MDF and MDS).
• DMG – Macintosh disk image files

(MPEG-1 is found in a .DAT file on a video CD.)

• CDI - DiscJuggler image file
• CUE - CDRWrite CUE image file
• CIF - Easy CD Creator .cif format
• C2D - Roxio / WinOnCD .c2d format
• DAA - PowerISO .daa format
• CCD,SUB,IMG - CloneCD image file
• B6T - BlindWrite 5/6 image file

Computer-aided

Computer-aided is a prefix for several categories of tools (e.g., design, manufacture, engineering) which assist professionals in their respective fields (e.g., machining, architecture, schematics).

Computer-aided design (CAD)

Computer-aided design (CAD) software assists engineers, architects and other design professionals in project design.

• 3dmlw – (3D Markup Language for Web) files
• 3dxml – Dassault Systemes graphic representation
• ACP – VA Software VA – Virtual Architecture CAD file
• AMF – Additive Manufacturing File Format
• AR – Ashlar-Vellum Argon – 3D Modeling
• ART – ArtCAM model
• ASC – BRL-CAD Geometry File (old ASCII format)
• ASM – Solidedge Assembly, Pro/ENGINEER Assembly
• BIN, BIM – Data Design System DDS-CAD
• CCC – CopyCAD Curves
• CCM – CopyCAD Model
• CCS – CopyCAD Session
• CAD – CadStd
• CATDrawing – CATIA V5 Drawing document
• CATPart – CATIA V5 Part document
• CATProduct – CATIA V5 Assembly document
• CATProcess – CATIA V5 Manufacturing document
• cgr – CATIA V5 graphic representation file
• CO – Ashlar-Vellum Cobalt – parametric drafting and 3D modeling
• DRW – Caddie Early version of Caddie drawing – Prior to Caddie changing to DWG
• DWG – AutoCAD and Open Design Alliance applications
• DFT – Solidedge Draft
• DGN – MicroStation design file
• DGK – Delcam Geometry
• DMT – Delcam Machining Triangles
• DXF – ASCII Drawing Interchange file format – AutoCAD
• DWB – VariCAD drawing file
• DWF – AutoDesk's Web Design Format; AutoCAD & Revit can publish to this format; similar in concept to PDF files; AutoDesk Design Review is the reader
• EMB – Wilcom ES Designer Embroidery CAD file
• ESW – Agtek format
• EXCELLON – Excellon file
• EXP – Drawing Express file format
• FM – FeatureCAM Part File
• FMZ – FormZ Project file
• G – BRL-CAD Geometry File
• GERBER – Gerber file
• GRB – T-FLEX CAD File
• GTC – GRAITEC Advance file format
• IAM – Autodesk Inventor Assembly file
• ICD – IronCAD 2D CAD file
• IDW – Autodesk Inventor Drawing file
• IFC – buildingSMART for sharing AEC and FM data
• IGES – Initial Graphics Exchange Specification
• Intergraph's Intergraph Standard File Formats
• IPN – Autodesk Inventor Presentation file
• IPT – Autodesk Inventor Part file
• MCD – Monu-CAD (Monument/Headstone Drawing file)
• model – CATIA V4 part document
• PAR – Solidedge Part
• PRT – NX (recently known as Unigraphics), Pro/ENGINEER Part, CADKEY Part
• PLN – ArchiCad project
• PSM – Solidedge Sheet
• PSMODEL – PowerSHAPE Model
• PWI – PowerINSPECT File
• PYT – Pythagoras File
• SKP – SketchUp Model
• RLF – ArtCAM Relief
• RVT – AutoDesk Revit project files
• RFA – AutoDesk Revit family files
• SCDOC - SpaceClaim 3D Part/Assembly
• SLDASM – SolidWorks Assembly drawing
• SLDDRW – SolidWorks 2D drawing
• SLDPRT – SolidWorks 3D part model
• Softimage's dotXSI
• STEP – Standard for the Exchange of Product model data
• STL – Stereo Lithographic data format (see STL (file format)) used by various CAD systems and stereo lithographic printing machines.
• TCT – TurboCAD drawing template
• TCW – TurboCAD for Windows 2D and 3D drawing
• UNV – I-DEAS I-DEAS (Integrated Design and Engineering Analysis Software)
• VC6 – Ashlar-Vellum Graphite – 2D and 3D drafting
• VLM – Ashlar-Vellum Vellum, Vellum 2D, Vellum Draft, Vellum 3D, DrawingBoard
• VS – Ashlar-Vellum Vellum Solids
• WRL – Similar to STL, but includes color. Used by various CAD systems and 3D printing rapid prototyping machines. Also used for VRML models on the web.
• XE – Ashlar-Vellum Xenon – for Associative 3D Modeling

Electronic design automation (EDA)

Electronic design automation (EDA), or electronic computer-aided design (ECAD), is specific to the field of electrical engineering.

• BRD – Board file for EAGLE Layout Editor, a commercial PCB design tool
• BSDL – Description language for testing through JTAG
• CDL – Transistor-level netlist format for IC design
• CPF – Power-domain specification in SoC implementation (see also UPF)
• DEF – Gate-level layout
• DSPF – Detailed Standard Parasitic Format, Analog-level parasitics of interconnections in IC design
• EDIF – Vendor neutral gate-level netlist format
• FSDB – Analog waveform format (see also Waveform viewer)
• GDSII – Format for PCB and layout of integrated circuits
• HEX – ASCII-coded binary format for memory dumps
• LEF – Library Exchange Format, physical abstract of cells for IC design
• LIB – Library modeling (function, timing) format
• MS10 – NI Multisim file
• OASIS – Open Artwork System Interchange Standard
• OpenAccess – Design database format with APIs
• SDC – Synopsys Design Constraints, format for synthesis constraints
• SDF – Standard for gate-level timings
• SPEF – Standard format for parasitics of interconnections in IC design
• SPI, CIR – SPICE Netlist, device-level netlist and commands for simulation
• SREC, S19 – S-record, ASCII-coded format for memory dumps
• SV – SystemVerilog source file
• UPF – Standard for Power-domain specification in SoC implementation
• V – Verilog source file
• VCD – Standard format for digital simulation waveform
• VHD, VHDL – VHDL source file

Test technology

Files output from Automatic Test Equipment or post-processed from such.

• Standard Test Data Format

Database

• ACCDB – Microsoft Database (Microsoft Office Access 2007)
• ADT – Sybase Advantage Database Server (ADS)
• APR – Lotus Approach data entry & reports
• BOX – Lotus Notes Post Office mail routing database
• CHML – Krasbit Technologies Encrypted database file for 1 click integration between contact management software and the chameleon(tm) line of imaging workflow solutions
• DAF – Digital Anchor data file
• DAT – DOS Basic
• DB – Paradox
• DB - SQLite
• DBF – db/dbase II,III,IV and V, Clipper, Harbour/xHarbour, Fox/FoxPro, Oracle
• EGT – EGT Universal Document, used to compress sql databases to smaller files, may contain original EGT database style.
• ESS – EGT SmartSense is a database of files and its compression style. Specific to EGT SmartSense
• EAP – Enterprise Architect Project
• FDB – Firebird Databases
• FDB – Navision database file
• FP, FP3, FP5, and FP7 – FileMaker Pro
• FRM – MySQL table definition
• GDB – Borland InterBase Databases
• KEXI – Kexi database file (SQLite-based)
• KEXIC – shortcut to a database connection for a Kexi databases on a server
• LDB – Temporary database file, only existing when database is open
• MDB (.mdb, .ldb) – Microsoft Database (Access)
• ADP – Microsoft Access project (used for accessing databases on a server)
• MDE – Compiled Microsoft Database (Access)
• MDF – Microsoft SQL Server Database
• MYD – MySQL MyISAM table data
• MYI – MySQL MyISAM table index
• NCF – Lotus Notes configuration file
• NSF – Lotus Notes database
• NTF – Lotus Notes database design template
• NV2 – QW Page NewViews object oriented accounting database
• ODB – OpenDocument database
• ORA – Oracle tablespace files sometimes get this extension (also used for configuration files)
• PDB – Palm OS Database
• PDI – Portable Database Image
• PDX – Corel Paradox database management
• PRC – Palm OS resource database
• SQL – bundled SQL queries
• REL – Sage Retrieve 4GL data file
• RIN – Sage Retrieve 4GL index file
• SDB – StarOffice's StarBase
• UDL – Universal Data Link
• WDB – Microsoft Works Database
• WMDB – Windows Media Database file – The CurrentDatabase_360.wmdb file can contain file name, file properties, music, video, photo and playlist information.

Desktop publishing

• DTP – greenstreet Publisher, GST PressWorks
• INDD – Adobe InDesign
• MCF – FotoInsight Designer
• PMD – Adobe PageMaker
• PPP – Serif PagePlus
• PUB – Microsoft Publisher
• FM – Adobe FrameMaker

Document

These files store formatted text and plain text.

602 – Text602 document ABW – AbiWord document ACL – MS Word AutoCorrect List AFP – Advanced Function Presentation – IBc Amigaguide ANS – ANSI text with Layout ASC – ASCII text with Layout AWW – Ability Write CSV – ASCII text encoded as Comma Separated Values, used in most spreadsheets such as Microsoft Excel or by most database management systems CWK – ClarisWorks / AppleWorks document DOC – Microsoft Word document DOCX – Office Open XML Text document or Microsoft Office Word 2007 for Windows/2008 for Mac DOT – Microsoft Word document template DOTX – Office Open XML Text document template EGT – EGT Universal Document FDX – Final Draft FTM – Fielded Text Meta FTX – Fielded Text (Declared) HTML – HyperText Markup Language (.html, .htm) HWP – Haansoft (Hancom) Hangul Word Processor document HWPML – Haansoft (Hancom) Hangul Word Processor Markup Language document LWP – Lotus Word Pro MCW – Microsoft Word for Macintosh (versions 4.0–5.1) NB – Mathematica Notebook NBP – Mathematica Player Notebook ODM – OpenDocument Master document ODT – OpenDocument Text document OTT – OpenDocument Text document template

PAGES – Apple Pages document PAP – Papyrus word processor document PDAX – Portable Document Archive (PDA) document index file PDF – Portable Document Format Radix-64 RTF – Rich Text document QUOX – Question Object File Format Question Object document for Quobject Designer or Quobject Explorer RPT – Crystal Reports SDW – StarWriter text document, used in earlier versions of StarOffice STW – OpenOffice.org XML (obsolete) text document template SXW – OpenOffice.org XML (obsolete) text document TeX (.tex) Texinfo (.info) Troff TXT – ASCII or Unicode plaintext UOF – Uniform Office Format UOML – UniqueObject Markup Language (UOML) is a XML-based markup language; uniqueobject WPD – WordPerfect document WPS – Microsoft Works document WPT – Microsoft Works document template WRD – WordIt! Document WRF – ThinkFree Write WRI – Microsoft Write document XHTML (.xhtml, .xht) – eXtensible Hyper-Text Markup Language XML – eXtensible Markup Language XPS – Open XML Paper Specification

Font file

• ABF – Adobe Binary Screen Font
• AFM – Adobe Font Metrics
• BDF – Bitmap Distribution Format
• BMF – ByteMap Font Format
• FNT – Bitmapped Font – Graphical Environment Manager
• FON – Bitmapped Font – Microsoft Windows
• MGF – MicroGrafx Font
• OTF – OpenType Font
• PCF – Portable Compiled Font
• PostScript Font – Type 1, Type 2
  • PFA – Printer Font ASCII
  • PFB – Printer Font Binary – Adobe
  • PFM – Printer Font Metrics – Adobe
  • FOND – Font Description resource – Mac OS
• SFD – FontForge spline font database Font
• SNF – Server Normal Format
• TDF – TheDraw Font
• TFM – TeX font metric
• TTF (.ttf, .ttc) – TrueType Font

Geographic information system

• APR – ESRI ArcView 3.3 and earlier project file
• DEM – USGS DEM file format
• E00 – ARC/INFO interchange file format
• GeoTIFF – Geographically located raster data
• GPX – XML-based interchange format
• MXD – ESRI ArcGIS project file, 8.0 and higher
• SHP – ESRI shapefile
• TAB – MapInfo Table file format
• World TIFF – Geographically located raster data: text file giving corner coordinate, raster cells per unit, and rotation
• DTED – Digital Terrain Elevation Data
• KML – Keyhole Markup Language, XML-based

Graphical information organizers

• 3DT – 3D Topicscape The database in which the meta-data of a 3D Topicscape is held. A 3D Topicscape is a form of 3D concept map (like a 3D mind-map) used to organize ideas, information and computer files.
• ATY – 3D Topicscape file, produced when an association type is exported by 3D Topicscape. Used to permit round-trip (export Topicscape, change files and folders as desired, re-import them to 3D Topicscape).
• CAG – Linear Reference System.
• FES – 3D Topicscape file, produced when a fileless occurrence in 3D Topicscape is exported to Windows. Used to permit round-trip (export Topicscape, change files and folders as desired, re-import them to 3D Topicscape).
• MGMF – MindGenius Mind Mapping Software file format.
• MM – FreeMind mind map file (XML).
• MMP – Mind Manager mind map file.
• TPC – 3D Topicscape file, produced when an inter-Topicscape topic link file is exported to Windows. Used to permit round-trip (export Topicscape, change files and folders as desired, re-import them to 3D Topicscape).

Graphics

Main article: image file formats

Color palettes

• ACT – Adobe Color Table. Contains a raw color palette and consists of 256 24-bit RGB colour values.
• PAL – Microsoft palette file

Raster graphics

Raster (or Bitmap) files store images as a group of pixels.

ASE – Adobe Swatch ART – America Online proprietary format BMP – Microsoft Windows Bitmap formatted image BLP – Blizzard Entertainment proprietary texture format CIT – Intergraph is a monochrome bitmap format CPT – Corel PHOTO-PAINT image CUT – Dr. Halo image file DDS – DirectX texture file DIB – Device-Independent Bitmap graphic DjVu – DjVu for scanned documents EGT – EGT Universal Document, used in EGT SmartSense to compress PNG files to yet a smaller file Exif – Exchangeable image file format (Exif) is a specification for the image file format used by digital cameras GIF – CompuServe's Graphics Interchange Format GPL – GIMP Palette, using a textual representation of color names and RGB values ICNS – file format use for icons in Mac OS X. Contains bitmap images at multiple resolutions and bitdepths with alpha channel. ICO – a file format used for icons in Microsoft Windows. Contains small bitmap images at multiple resolutions and sizes. IFF (.iff, .ilbm, .lbm) – ILBM JNG – a single-frame MNG using JPEG compression and possibly an alpha channel. JPEG, JFIF (.jpg or .jpeg) – Joint Photographic Experts Group – a lossy image format widely used to display photographic images. JP2 – JPEG2000 JPS – JPEG Stereo LBM – Deluxe Paint image file MAX – ScanSoft PaperPort document MIFF – ImageMagick's native file format MNG – Multiple Network Graphics, the animated version of PNG MSP – a file format used by old versions of Microsoft Paint. Replaced with BMP in Microsoft Windows 3.0 NITF – A U.S. Government standard commonly used in Intelligence systems OTA bitmap (Over The Air bitmap) – a specification designed by Nokia for black and white images for mobile phones PBM – Portable bitmap PC1 – Low resolution, compressed Degas picture file PC2 – Medium resolution, compressed Degas picture file PC3 – High resolution, compressed Degas picture file PCF – Pixel Coordination Format PCX – a lossless format used by ZSoft's PC Paint, popular at one time on DOS systems.

PDN – Paint.NET image file PGM – Portable graymap PI1 – Low resolution, uncompressed Degas picture file PI2 – Medium resolution, uncompressed Degas picture file. Also Portrait Innovations encrypted image format. PI3 – High resolution, uncompressed Degas picture file PICT, PCT – Apple Macintosh PICT image PNG – Portable Network Graphic (lossless, recommended for display and edition of graphic images) PNM – Portable anymap graphic bitmap image PNS – PNS – PNG Stereo PPM – Portable Pixmap (Pixel Map) image PSB – Adobe Photoshop Big image file (for large files) PSD, PDD – Adobe Photoshop Drawing PSP – Paint Shop Pro image PX – Pixel image editor image file PXR – Pixar Image Computer image file QFX – QuickLink Fax image RAW – General term for minimally processed image data (acquired by a digital camera) RLE – a run-length encoded image SCT – Scitex Continuous Tone image file SGI, RGB, INT, BW – Silicon Graphics Image TGA (.tga, .targa, .icb, .vda, .vst, .pix) – Truevision TGA (Targa) image TIFF (.tif or .tiff) – Tagged Image File Format (usually lossless, but many variants exist, including lossy ones) TIFF/EP (.tif or .tiff) – ISO 12234-2; tends to be used as a basis for other formats rather than in its own right. XBM – X Window System Bitmap XCF – GIMP image (from Gimp's origin at the eXperimental Computing Facility of the University of California) XPM – X Window System Pixmap

Vector graphics

Vector graphics use geometric primitives such as points, lines, curves, and polygons to represent images.

• AMF – Additive Manufacturing File Format
• AWG – Ability Draw
• 3DV – 3-D wireframe graphics by Oscar Garcia
• AI – Adobe Illustrator Document
• EPS – Encapsulated Postscript
• CGM – Computer Graphics Metafile an ISO Standard
• CDR – CorelDRAW vector image
• CMX – CorelDRAW vector image
• DXF – ASCII Drawing Interchange file Format, used in AutoCAD and other CAD-programs
• E2D – 2-dimensional vector graphics used by the editor which is included in JFire
• EGT – EGT Universal Document, EGT Vector Draw images are used to draw vector to a website
• ODG – OpenDocument Drawing
• SVG – Scalable Vector Graphics, employs XML
• Scene description languages (3D vector image formats)
  • MOVIE.BYU
  • RenderMan
  • STL – Stereo Lithographic data format (see STL (file format)) used by various CAD systems and stereo lithographic printing machines. See above.
  • VRML Uses .wrl extension – Virtual Reality Modeling Language, for the creation of 3D viewable web images.
  • X3D
• SXD – OpenOffice.org XML (obsolete) Drawing
• V2D – voucher design used by the voucher management included in JFire
• WMF – Windows Meta File
• EMF – Enhanced (Windows) MetaFile, an extension to WMF
• ART – Xara – Drawing (superseded by XAR)
• XAR – Xara – Drawing

3D graphics

3D graphics are 3D models that allow building models in real-time or non real-time 3D rendering.

• 3DMF – QuickDraw 3D Metafile (.3dmf)
• 3DM – OpenNURBS Initiative 3D Model (used by Rhinoceros 3D) (.3dm)
• 3DS – Legacy 3D Studio Model (.3ds)
• AC – AC3D Model (.ac)
• AMF – Additive Manufacturing File Format
• AN8 – Anim8or Model (.an8)
• AOI – Art of Illusion Model (.aoi)
• B3D – Blitz3D Model (.b3d)
• BLEND – Blender (.blend)
• BLOCK – Blender encrypted blend files (.block)
• C4D – Cinema 4D (.c4d)
• Cal3D – Cal3D (.cal3d)
• CCP4 – X-ray crystallography voxels (electron density)
• CFL – Compressed File Library (.cfl)
• COB – Caligari Object (.cob)
• CORE3D – Coreona 3D Coreona 3D Virtual File(.core3d)
• CTM – OpenCTM (.ctm)
• DAE – COLLADA (.dae)
• DFF – RenderWare binary stream, commonly used by Grand Theft Auto III-era games as well as other RenderWare titles
• DPM – deepMesh (.dpm)
• DTS – Torque Game Engine (.dts)
• EGG – Panda3D Engine
• FACT – Electric Image (.fac)
• FBX – Autodesk FBX (.fbx)
• G – BRL-CAD geometry (.g)
• GLM – Ghoul Mesh (.glm)
• LWO – Lightwave Object (.lwo)
• LWS – Lightwave Scene (.lws)
• LXO – Luxology Modo (software) file (.lxo)
• MA – Autodesk Maya ASCII File (.ma)
• MAX – Autodesk 3D Studio Max file (.max)
• MB – Autodesk Maya Binary File (.mb)
• MD2 – Quake 2 model format (.md2)
• MD3 – Quake 3 model format (.md3)
• MDX – Blizzard Entertainment's own model format (.mdx)
• MESH – New York University(.m)
• MESH – Meshwork Model (.mesh)
• MM3D – Misfit Model 3d (.mm3d)
• MPO - Multi-Picture Object - This JPEG standard is used for 3d images, as with the Nintendo 3DS
• MRC – voxels in cryo-electron microscopy
• NIF – Gamebryo NetImmerse File (.nif)
• OBJ – Wavefront .obj file (.obj)
• OFF – OFF Object file format (.off)
• PRC – Adobe PRC (embedded in PDF files)
• POV – POV-Ray document (.pov)
• RWX – RenderWare Object (.rwx)
• SIA – Nevercenter Silo Object (.sia)
• SIB – Nevercenter Silo Object (.sib)
• SKP – Google Sketchup file (.skp)
• SLDASM – SolidWorks Assembly Document (.sldasm)
• SLDPRT – SolidWorks Part Document (.sldprt)
• SMD – Valve Studiomdl Data format. (.smd)
• U3D – Universal 3D file format (.u3d)
• VUE – Vue scene file (.vue)
• WINGS – Wings3D (.wings)
• X – DirectX 3D Model (.x)
• X3D – Extensible 3D (.x3d)
• Z3D – Zmodeler (.z3d)

Object code, executable files, shared and dynamically-linked libraries

• .8BF files – plugins for some photo editing programs including Adobe Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, GIMP and Helicon Filter.
• .a – static library
• a.out – (no suffix for executable image, .o for object files, .so for shared object files) classic UNIX object format, now often superseded by ELF
• APP – apple application program executable file. Another form of zip file.
• BAC – an executable image for the RSTS/E system, created using the BASIC-PLUS COMPILE command^[1]
• BPL – a Win32 PE file created with Borland Delphi or C++Builder containing a package.
• Bundle – a Macintosh plugin created with Xcode or make which holds executable code, data files, and folders for that code.
• .Class – used in Java
• COFF (no suffix for executable image, .o for object files) – UNIX Common Object File Format, now often superseded by ELF
• COM files – commands used in DOS
• DCU – Delphi compiled unit
• DOL – the file format used by the Gamecube and Wii, short for Dolphin the codename of the Gamecube.
• .EAR – archives of Java enterprise applications
• ELF – (no suffix for executable image, .o for object files, .so for shared object files) used in many modern Unix and Unix-like systems, including Solaris, other System V Release 4 derivatives, Linux, and BSD)
• expander (see bundle)
• DOS executable (.exe – used in DOS)
• .JAR – archives of Java class files
• .XPI – PKZIP archive that can be run by Mozilla web browsers to install software)
• Mach-O – (no suffix for executable image, .o for object files, .dylib and .bundle for shared object files) Mach based systems, notably native format of Mac OS X)
• NetWare Loadable Module (.NLM) – the native 32-bit binaries compiled for Novell's NetWare Operating System (versions 3 and newer)
• New Executable (.EXE – used in DOS 4.0 and later, 16-bit Microsoft Windows, and OS/2)
• .o – un-linked object files directly from the compiler.
• Portable Executable (.EXE, .DLL – used in Microsoft Windows and some other systems)
• Preferred Executable Format – (Mac OS versions 9 and earlier; compatible with Mac OS X via the Classic emulator)
• .s1es – Executable used for S1ES learning system.
• .so – shared library, typically ELF
• Value Added Process (.VAP) – the native 16-bit binaries compiled for Novell's NetWare Operating System (version 2, NetWare 286, Advanced NetWare, etc.)
• .WAR – archives of Java Web applications
• XBE – Xbox executable
• XCOFF – (no suffix for executable image, .o for object files, .a for shared object files) extended COFF, used in AIX
• XEX – Xbox 360 executable

Object extensions

• .VBX – Visual Basic extensions
• .OCX – Object Control extensions

• .TLB – Windows Type Library

Mathematic

• MathML – Mathematical Markup Language (.mml)
• Harwell-Boeing file format – a format designed to store sparse matrices
• ODF – OpenDocument Math Formula
• SXM – OpenOffice.org XML (obsolete) Math Formula

Page description language

• DVI
• EGT – Universal Document can be used to store CSS type styles (*.egt)
• PLD
• PCL
• PDF – Portable Document Format
• PostScript (.ps, .ps .gz)
• SNP – Microsoft Access Report Snapshot
• XPS
• XSL-FO (Formatting Objects)
• Configurations, Metadata
  • CSS – Cascading Style Sheets
  • XSLT, XSL – XML Style Sheet (.xslt, .xsl)
  • TPL – Web template (.tpl)

Personal information manager

Main article: Personal information manager

• MSG – Microsoft Outlook task manager
• ORG – Lotus Organizer PIM package
• PST – Microsoft Outlook email communication
• SC2 – Microsoft Schedule+ calendar

Presentation

• KEY, KEYNOTE – Apple Keynote Presentation
• NB – Mathematica Slideshow
• NBP – Mathematica Player slideshow
• ODP – OpenDocument Presentation
• OTP – OpenDocument Presentation template
• POT – Microsoft PowerPoint template
• PPS – Microsoft PowerPoint Show
• PPT – Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation
• PPTX – Office Open XML Presentation
• PRZ – Lotus Freelance Graphics
• SDD – StarOffice's StarImpress
• SHF – ThinkFree Show
• SHOW – Haansoft(Hancom) Presentation software document
• SHW – Corel Presentations slide show creation
• SLP – Logix-4D Manager Show Control Project
• SSPSS – SongShow Plus Slide Show
• STI – OpenOffice.org XML (obsolete) Presentation template
• SXI – OpenOffice.org XML (obsolete) Presentation
• WATCH – Dataton Watchout Presentation

Project management software

Main article: Project management software

• MPP – Microsoft Project

Reference management software

Main article: Reference management software

Formats of files used for bibliographic information (citation) management.

• bib – BibTeX
• enl – EndNote
• ris – Research Information Systems RIS (file format)

Scientific data (data exchange)

• FITS (Flexible Image Transport System) – standard data format for astronomy
• Silo – a storage format for visualization developed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
• SPC – spectroscopic data
• EAS3 – binary file format for structured data
• OST (Open Spatio-Temporal) – extensible, mainly images with related data, or just pure data; meant as an open alternative for microscope images
• CCP4 – X-ray crystallography voxels (electron density)
• MRC – voxels in cryo-electron microscopy

Multi-domain

• NetCDF – Network common data format
• HDR, [HDF], h4 or h5 – Hierarchical Data Format
• SDXF – (Structured Data Exchange Format)
• CDF – Common Data Format
• CGNS – CFD General Notation System

Meteorology

• GRIB – Grid In Binary, WMO format for weather model data
• BUFR – WMO format for weather observation data
• PP – UK Met Office format for weather model data
• NASA-Ames – Simple text format for observation data. First used in aircraft studies of the atmosphere.

Chemistry

Main article: chemical file format

• CML – Chemical Markup Language (CML) (.cml)
• Chemical table file (CTab) (.mol, .sd, .sdf)
• Joint Committee on Atomic and Molecular Physical Data (JCAMP) (.dx, .jdx)
• Simplified molecular input line entry specification (SMILES) (.smi)

Biology

• Molecular biology and bioinformatics:
  • AB1 – In DNA sequencing, chromatogram files used by instruments from Applied Biosystems
  • ACE – A sequence assembly format
  • BAM – Binary compressed SAM format
  • CAF – Common Assembly Format for sequence assembly
  • EMBL – The flatfile format used by the EMBL to represent database records for nucleotide and peptide sequences from EMBL databases
  • FASTA – The FASTA file format, for sequence data. Sometimes also given as FNA or FAA (Fasta Nucleic Acid or Fasta Amino Acid).
  • FASTQ – The FASTQ file format, for sequence data with quality. Sometimes also given as QUAL.
  • GenBank – The flatfile format used by the NCBI to represent database records for nucleotide and peptide sequences from the GenBank and RefSeq databases
  • GFF – The General feature format is used for describing genes and other features of DNA, RNA and protein sequences
  • GTF – The Gene transfer format is used to hold information about gene structure.
  • PDB – structures of biomolecules deposited in Protein Data Bank. Also used for exchanging protein/nucleic acid structures.
  • PHD – Phred output, from the basecalling software Phred
  • SAM – Sequence Alignment/Map format, in which the results of the 1000 Genomes Project will be released.
  • SCF – Staden chromatogram files used to store data from DNA sequencing
  • SBML – The Systems Biology Markup Language is use to store biochemical network computational models
  • Stockholm – The Stockholm format for representing multiple sequence alignments
  • Swiss-Prot – The flatfile format used to represent database records for protein sequences from the Swiss-Prot database
  • VCF – Variant Call Format, a standard created by the 1000 Genomes Project that lists and annotates the entire collection of human variants (with the exception of approximately 1.6 million variants).

Biomedical imaging

• Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) (.dcm)
• Neuroimaging Informatics Technology Initiative (NIfTI)
  • .nii – single-file (combined data and meta-data) style
    • .nii.gz – gzip-compressed, used transparently by some software, notably the FMRIB Software Library (FSL)
    • .gii – single-file (combined data and meta-data) style; NIfTI offspring for brain surface data
  • .img,.hdr – dual-file (separate data and meta-data, respectively) style
• AFNI data, meta-data (.BRIK,.HEAD)
• Massachusetts General Hospital imaging format, used by the FreeSurfer brain analysis package
  • .MGH – uncompressed
  • .MGZ – zip-compressed
• Analyze data, meta-data (.img,.hdr)
• Signed Differential Mapping (SDM) brain maps and/or distributions (.sdm)

Biomedical signals (time series)

• ACQ – AcqKnowledge File Format for Windows/PC from Biopac Systems Inc., Goleta, CA, USA.
• BCI2000 – The BCI2000 project, Albany, NY, USA.
• BDF – BioSemi data format from BioSemi B.V. Amsterdam, Netherlands.
• BKR – The EEG data format developed at the University of Technology Graz, Austria.
• CFWB – Chart Data File Format from ADInstruments Pty Ltd, Bella Vista NSW, Australia.
• DICOM – Waveform An extension of Dicom for storing waveform data
• ecgML – A markup language for electrocardiogram data acquisition and analysis.
• EDF/EDF+ – European Data Format.
• FEF – File Exchange Format for Vital signs, CEN TS 14271.
• GDF v1.x – The General Data Format for biomedical signals – Version 1.x.
• GDF v2.x – The General Data Format for biomedical signals – Version 2.x.
• HL7aECG – Health Level 7 v3 annotated ECG.
• MFER – Medical waveform Format Encoding Rules
• OpenXDF – Open Exchange Data Format from Neurotronics, Inc. Gainesville, FL, USA.
• SCP-ECG – Standard Communication Protocol for Computer assisted electrocardiography EN1064:2007,
• SIGIF – A digital SIGnal Interchange Format with application in neurophysiology.
• WFDB – Format of Physiobank

Script

• AHK – AutoHotkey script file
• APPLESCRIPT – See SCPT.
• AS – Adobe Flash ActionScript File
• AU3 – AutoIt version 3
• BAT – Batch file
• BAS – QBasic & QuickBASIC
• CMD – Batch file
• Coffee - CoffeeScript
• EGG – Chicken
• EGT – EGT Asterisk Application Source File, EGT Universal Document
• ERB - Embedded Ruby
• HTA – HTML Application
• IBI – Icarus script
• ICI – ICI
• ITCL – Itcl
• JS – JavaScript and JScript
• JSFL – Adobe JavaScript language
• LUA – Lua
• M – Mathematica package file
• MRC – mIRC Script
• NCF – NetWare Command File (scripting for Novell's NetWare OS)
• NUT – Squirrel
• PHP – PHP
• PHP? – PHP (? = version number)
• PL – Perl
• PM – Perl module
• PS1 – Windows PowerShell shell script
• PS1XML – Windows PowerShell format and type definitions
• PSC1 – Windows PowerShell console file
• PSD1 – Windows PowerShell data file
• PSM1 – Windows PowerShell module file
• PY – Python
• PYC – Python
• PYO – Python
• R – R scripts
• RB – Ruby
• RDP – RDP connection
• SCPT – Applescript
• SCPTD – See SCPT.
• SDL – State Description Language
• SH – Shell script
• TCL – Tcl
• VBS – Visual Basic Script
• XPL – XProc script/pipeline
• ebuild – Gentoo linux's portage package.

Signal data (non-audio)

• ACQ – AcqKnowledge File Format for Windows/PC from Biopac
• BKR – The EEG data format developed at the University of Technology Graz
• BDF – BioSemi data format – similar to EDF but 24bit
• CFWB – Chart Data File Format from ADInstruments
• EDF – European data format
• FEF – File Exchange Format for Vital signs
• GDF – General data formats for biomedical signals
• GMS – Gesture And Motion Signal format
• IROCK – intelliRock Sensor Data File Format
• MFER – Medical waveform Format Encoding Rules
• SCP-ECG – Standard Communication Protocol for Computer assisted electrocardiography
• SEG Y – Reflection seismology data format
• SIGIF – SIGnal Interchange Format

Sound and music

Lossless audio

• Uncompressed
  • AIFF – Audio Interchange File Format
  • AU
  • CDDA
  • IFF-8SVX
  • IFF-16SV
  • RAW – raw samples without any header or sync
  • WAV – Microsoft Wave
• Compressed
  • FLAC – (free lossless codec of the Ogg project)
  • LA – Lossless Audio (.la)
  • PAC – LPAC (.pac)
  • M4A – Apple Lossless (M4A)
  • APE – Monkey's Audio (APE)
  • OptimFROG
  • RKA – RKAU (.rka)
  • SHN – Shorten (SHN)
  • TTA – free lossless audio codec (True Audio)
  • WV – WavPack (.wv)
  • WMA – Windows Media Audio 9 Lossless (WMA)

Lossy audio

• AMR – for GSM and UMTS based mobile phones
• MP2 – MPEG Layer 2
• MP3 – MPEG Layer 3
• Speex – Ogg project, specialized for voice, low bitrates
• GSM – GSM Full Rate, originally developed for use in mobile phones
• WMA – Windows Media Audio (.WMA)
• AAC (.m4a, .mp4, .m4p, .aac) – Advanced Audio Coding (usually in an MPEG-4 container)
• MPC – Musepack
• VQF – Yamaha TwinVQ
• RealAudio (RA, RM)
• OTS – Audio File (similar to MP3, with more data stored in the file and slightly better compression; designed for use with OtsLabs' OtsAV)
• SWA – Macromedia Shockwave Audio (Same compression as MP3 with additional header information specific to Macromedia Director
• VOX – Dialogic ADPCM Low Sample Rate Digitized Voice (VOX)
• VOC – Creative Labs Soundblaster Creative Voice 8-bit & 16-bit (VOC)
• DWD – DiamondWare Digitized (DWD)
• SMP – Turtlebeach SampleVision (SMP)

Other music

• AUP – Audacity project file
• BAND – GarageBand music
• CUST – DeliPlayer custom sound file format
• MID – standard MIDI file; most often just notes and controls but occasionally also sample dumps
• MUS – Finale Notation file, see also Finale (software)
• SIB – Sibelius Notation file, see also Sibelius (computer program)
• LY – LilyPond Notation file, see also GNU LilyPond
• GYM – Sega Genesis YM2612 log
• VGM – stands for "Video Game Music", log for several different chips
• PSF
• NSF – NES Sound Format, bytecode program to play NES music
• MOD – Soundtracker and Protracker sample and melody modules
• PTB – Power Tab Editor tab
• S3M – Scream Tracker 3 module, with a few more effects and a dedicated volume column
• XM – Fast Tracker module, adding instrument envelopes
• IT – Impulse Tracker module, adding compressed samples, note-release actions, and more effects including a resonant filter
• MT2 – MadTracker 2 module. It could be resumed as being XM and IT combined with more features like track effects and automation.
• MNG – BGM for the Creatures game series, starting from Creatures 2
• PSF – Portable Sound Format, PlayStation variant (originally PlayStation Sound Format).
  • minipsf, psflib – Multipart PSF
  • 2sf, dsf, gsf, psf2, qsf, ssf, usf – PSF for other platforms
• RMJ – RealJukebox Media used for RealPlayer.
• SPC – Super Nintendo Entertainment System sound file format.
• NIFF (Notation Interchange File Format)
• MusicXML
• TXM – Track ax media
• YM – Atari ST/Amstrad CPC YM2149 sound chip format
• JAM – Jam music format
• ASF – Advanced Systems Format
• MP1 – for use with UltraPlayer
• MSCZ – Musescore compressed file
• MSCZ, – Musescore uncompressed file

Playlists

• ASX – Advanced Stream Redirector (.asx)
• M3U
• PLS
• RAM – Real Audio Metafile For Real Audio files only.
• TXT/No extension – Mplayer playlist
• XSPF – the XML Shareable Playlist Format
• ZPL – Zune Playlist format

Audio editing, music production

• ALS – Ableton Live set
• AUP – Audacity project file
• BAND – GarageBand project file
• CEL – Adobe Audition loop file (Cool Edit Loop)
• CPR – Steinberg Cubase project file
• MMR – MAGIX Music Maker project file
• NPR – Steinberg Nuendo project file
• CWP – Cakewalk Sonar project file
• DRM – Steinberg Cubase drum file
• OMF – cross-application format Open Media Framework application-exchange bundled format
• SES – Adobe Audition multitrack session file
• SFL – Sound Forge sound file
• SNG – MIDI sequence file (MidiSoft, Korg, etc.) or n-Track Studio project file
• STF – StudioFactory project file. It contains all necessary patches, samples, tracks and settings to play the file.
• SYN – SynFactory project file. It contains all necessary patches, samples, tracks and settings to play the file.
• SND – Akai MPC sound file

Source code for computer programs

(see also: Script)

• ADA, ADB, 2.ADA – Ada (body) source
• ADS, 1.ADA – Ada (specification) source
• ASM, S – Assembly language source
• BAS – BASIC, Visual Basic, BASIC-PLUS source^[1]

• BB – Blitz3D
• BMX – BlitzMax
• C – C source
• CLJ – Clojure source code
• CLS – Visual Basic class
• COB, CBL – COBOL source
• CPP, CC, CXX, C – C++ source
• CS – C# source
• CSPROJ – C# project (Visual Studio .NET)
• D – D source
• DBA – DarkBASIC source
• DBPro – DarkBASIC Professional project
• E – Eiffel source
• EFS – EGT Forever Source File
• EGT – EGT Asterisk Source File, could be J, C#, VB.net, EF 2.0 (EGT Forever)
• EL – Emacs Lisp source
• FOR, FTN, F, F77, F90 – Fortran source
• FRM – Visual Basic form
• FRX – Visual Basic form stash file (binary form file)
• GED – Game Maker Extension Editable file as of version 7.0
• GM6 – Game Maker Editable file as of version 6.x
• GMD – Game Maker Editable file up to version 5.x
• GMK – Game Maker Editable file as of version 7.0
• GML – Game Maker Language script file
• GO – Go source
• H – C/C++ header file
• HPP, HXX – C++ header file
• HS – Haskell source
• INC – Turbo Pascal included source
• JAVA – Java source
• L – lex source
• LISP – Common Lisp source
• M – Objective-C source
• M – MATLAB
• M – Mathematica
• M4 – m4 source
• ML – Standard ML / Objective Caml source
• N – Nemerle source
• NB - Nuclear Basic source
• PAS, PP, P – Pascal source (DPR for projects)
• P – Parser source
• PHP, PHP3, PHP4, PHP5, PHPS, Phtml – PHP source
• PIV – Pivot stickfigure animator
• PL, PM – Perl
• PRG – db, clipper, Microsoft FoxPro, harbour and Xbase
• PY – Python source
• RB – Ruby source
• RESX – Resource file for .NET applications
• RC, RC2 – Resource script files to generate resources for .NET applications
• RKT, RKTL – Racket source
• SCI, SCE – Scilab
• SCM – Scheme source
• SKB, SKC – Sage Retrieve 4GL Common Area (Main and Amended backup)
• SKD – Sage Retrieve 4GL Database
• SKF, SKG – Sage Retrieve 4GL File Layouts (Main and Amended backup)
• SKI – Sage Retrieve 4GL Instructions
• SKK – Sage Retrieve 4GL Report Generator
• SKM – Sage Retrieve 4GL Menu
• SKO – Sage Retrieve 4GL Program
• SKP, SKQ – Sage Retrieve 4GL Print Layouts (Main and Amended backup)
• SKS, SKT – Sage Retrieve 4GL Screen Layouts (Main and Amended backup)
• SKZ – Sage Retrieve 4GL Security File
• SLN – Visual Studio solution
• SPIN – Spin source (for Parallax Propeller microcontrollers)
• STK – Stickfigure file for Pivot stickfigure animator
• VAP – Visual Studio Analyzer project
• VB – Visual Basic.NET source
• VBP, VIP – Visual Basic project
• VBG – Visual Studio compatible project group
• VBPROJ – Visual Basic .NET project
• VCPROJ – Visual C++ project
• VDPROJ – Visual Studio deployment project
• XPL – XProc script/pipeline
• XQ – XQuery file
• XSL – XSLT stylesheet
• Y – yacc source

Spreadsheet

• 123 – Lotus 1-2-3
• AB2 - Abykus worksheet
• AB3 - Abykus workbook
• AWS – Ability Spreadsheet
• CLF – ThinkFree Calc
• CELL – Haansoft(Hancom) SpreadSheet software document
• CSV – Comma-Separated Values
• numbers – An Apple Numbers Spreadsheet file
• gnumeric – Gnumeric spreadsheet, a gziped XML file
• ODS – OpenDocument spreadsheet
• OTS – OpenDocument spreadsheet template
• QPW – Quattro Pro spreadsheet
• SDC – StarOffice StarCalc Spreadsheet
• SLK – SYLK (SYmbolic LinK)
• STC – OpenOffice.org XML (obsolete) Spreadsheet template
• SXC – OpenOffice.org XML (obsolete) Spreadsheet
• TAB – tab delimited columns; also TSV (Tab-Separated Values)
• TXT – tab delimited columns
• VC – Visicalc
• WK1 – Lotus 1-2-3 up to version 2.01
• WK3 – Lotus 1-2-3 version 3.0
• WK4 – Lotus 1-2-3 version 4.0
• WKS – Lotus 1-2-3
• WKS – Microsoft Works
• WQ1 – Quattro Pro DOS version
• XLK – Microsoft Excel worksheet backup
• XLS – Microsoft Excel worksheet sheet (97-2003)
• XLSB – Microsoft Excel binary workbook
• XLSM – Microsoft Excel Macro-enabled workbook
• XLSX – Office Open XML worksheet sheet
• XLR – Microsoft Works version 6.0
• XLT – Microsoft Excel worksheet template
• XLTM – Microsoft Excel Macro-enabled worksheet template
• XLW – Microsoft Excel worksheet workspace (version 4.0)

Tabulated data

• TSV – Tab-separated values
• CSV – Comma-separated values
• db – databank format; accessible by many econometric applications
• dif – accessible by many spreadsheet applications

Video

Main article: Container format (digital)

• AAF – mostly intended to hold edit decisions and rendering information, but can also contain compressed media essence
• 3GP – the most common video format for cell phones
• GIF – Animated GIF (simple animation; until recently often avoided because of patent problems)
• ASF – container (enables any form of compression to be used; MPEG-4 is common; video in ASF-containers is also called Windows Media Video (WMV))
• AVCHD – Advanced Video Codec High Definition
• AVI – container (a shell, which enables any form of compression to be used)
• CAM – aMSN webcam log file
• DAT – video standard data file (automatically created when we attempted to burn as video file on the CD)
• DSH
• FLV – Flash video (encoded to run in a flash animation)
• M1V MPEG-1 – Video
• M2V MPEG-2 – Video
• FLA – Macromedia Flash (for producing)
• FLR – (text file which contains scripts extracted from SWF by a free ActionScript decompiler named FLARE)
• SOL – Adobe Flash shared object ("Flash cookie")
• M4V – (file format for videos for iPods and PlayStation Portables developed by Apple)
• Matroska (*.mkv) – Matroska is a container format, which enables any video format such as MPEG-4 ASP or AVC to be used along with other content such as subtitles and detailed meta information
• WRAP – MediaForge (*.wrap)
• MNG – mainly simple animation containing PNG and JPEG objects, often somewhat more complex than animated GIF
• QuickTime (.mov) – container which enables any form of compression to be used; Sorenson codec is the most common; QTCH is the filetype for cached video and audio streams
• MPEG (.mpeg, .mpg, .mpe)

• MPEG-4 Part 14, shortened "MP4" – multimedia container (most often used for Sony's PlayStation Portable and Apple's iPod)

• MXF – Material Exchange Format (standardized wrapper format for audio/visual material developed by SMPTE)
• ROQ – used by Quake 3
• NSV – Nullsoft Streaming Video (media container designed for streaming video content over the Internet)
• Ogg – container, multimedia
• RM – RealMedia
• SVI – Samsung video format for portable players
• SMI – SAMI Caption file (HTML like subtitle for movie files)
• SWF – Macromedia Flash (for viewing)
• WMV – Windows Media Video (See ASF)

Video editing, production

• FCP – Final Cut Pro project file
• MSWMM – Windows Movie Maker project file
• PPJ – Adobe Premiere Pro video editing file
• IMOVIEPROJ – iMovie project file
• VEG & VEG-BAK – Sony Vegas project file
• SUF – Sony camera configuration file (setup.suf) produced by XDCAM-EX camcorders

Video game data

List of common file formats of data for video games on systems that support filesystems, most commonly PC games.

• HALO Engine – File formats used by games based on the Halo engine.
  • MAP – A Level, User Interface, or Sounds
  • TAG – An Object
  • SAV – A saved game
  • LEV – A HALO ZERO Level
• TrackMania United/Nations Forever Engine – File formats used by games based on the TrackMania engine.
  • CHALLENGE.GBX – (Edited) Challenge files.
  • CONSTRUCTIONCAMPAIGN.GBX – Construction campaignes files.
  • CONTROLEFFECTMASTER.GBX/CONTROLSTYLE.GBX – Menu parts.
  • FIDCACHE.GBX – Saved game.
  • GBX – Other TrackMania items.
  • REPLAY.GBX – Replays of races.
• DOOM Engine – File formats used by games based on the DOOM engine.
  • DEH – DeHackEd files to mutate the game executable (not officially part of the DOOM engine)
  • DSG – Saved game
  • LMP – A lump is an entry in a DOOM wad.
  • LMP – Saved demo recording
  • MUS – Music file (usually contained within a WAD file)
  • WAD – Data storage (contains music, maps, and textures)
• Quake Engine – File formats used by games based on the Quake engine.
  • BSP – (For Binary space partitioning) compiled map format
  • MAP – Raw map format used by editors like GtkRadiant or QuArK
  • MDL/MD2/MD3/MD5 – Model for an item used in the game
  • PAK/PK2 – Data storage
  • PK3/PK4 – used by the Quake II, Quake III Arena and Quake 4 game engines, respectively, to store game data, textures etc. They are actually .zip files.
  • .dat – general data contained within the .PK3/PK4 files
    • .fontdat – a .dat file used for formatting game fonts
  • .roq – Video format
• Unreal Engine – File formats used by games based on the Unreal engine.
  • U – Unreal script format
  • UAX – Animations format for Unreal Engine 2
  • UMX – Map format for Unreal Tournament
  • UMX – Music format for Unreal Engine 1
  • UNR – Map format for Unreal
  • UPK – Package format for cooked content in Unreal Engine 3
  • USX – Sound format for Unreal Engine 1 and Unreal Engine 2
  • UT2 – Map format for Unreal Tournament 2003 and Unreal Tournament 2004
  • UT3 – Map format for Unreal Tournament 3
  • UTX – Texture format for Unreal Engine 1 and Unreal Engine 2
  • UXX – Cache format. These are files that client downloaded from server (which can be converted to regular formats)
• Duke Nukem 3D Engine – File formats used by games based on the Duke Nukem 3D engine.
  • DMO – Save game
  • GRP – Data storage
  • MAP – Map (usually constructed with BUILD.EXE)
• Diablo Engine – File formats used by Diablo by Blizzard Entertainment.
  • SV – Save Game
  • ITM – Item File
• Real Virtuality Engine – File formats used by Bohemia Interactive. Operation:Flashpoint, ARMA 2, VBS2
  • SQF – Format used for general editing
  • SQM – Format used for mission files
  • PBO – Binarized file used for compiled models
  • LIP – Format that is created from WAV files to create in-game accurate lip-synch for character animations.
• Other Formats
  • B – used for Grand Theft Auto saved game files
  • BOL – used for levels on Poing!PC
  • DBPF – The Sims 2, DBPF, Package
  • HE0, HE2, HE4 HE games File
  • GCF – format used by the Steam content management system for file archives.
  • IMG – format used by Renderware-based Grand Theft Auto games for data storage
  • MAP – format used by Halo: Combat Evolved for archive compression, Doom³, and various other games
  • OEC – format used by OE-Cake for scene data storage.
  • P3D – format for panda3d by disney.
  • POD – format used by Terminal Reality
  • REP – used by Blizzard Entertainment for scenario replays in StarCraft.
  • Simcity 4, DBPF (.dat, .SC4Lot, .SC4Model) – All game plugins use this format, commonly with different file extensions
  • SMZIP – ZIP-based package for Stepmania songs, themes and announcer packs.

Video game storage media

List of the most common filename extensions used when a game's ROM image or storage medium is copied from an original ROM device to an external memory such as hard disk for back up purposes or for making the game playable with an emulator. In the case of cartridge-based software, if the platform specific extension is not used then filename extensions ".rom" or ".bin" are usually used to clarify that the file contains a copy of a content of a ROM. ROM, disk or tape images usually do not consist of a single file or ROM, rather an entire file or ROM structure contained within a single file on the backup medium.

• JAG,J64 – Atari Jaguar (.jag, .j64)
• BIN – Wii (.bin)
• NDS – Nintendo DS (.nds)
• GB – Game Boy (.gb) (this applies to the original Game Boy and the Game Boy Color)

• GBC – Game Boy Color (.gbc)
• GBA – Game Boy Advance (.gba)

• GBA – Game Boy Advance (.gba)

• SAV – Game Boy Advance Saved Data Files (.sav)
• SGM – Visual Boy Advance Save States (.sgm)

• N64, V64, Z64, U64, USA, JAP, PAL, EUR, BIN – Nintendo 64 (.n64, .v64, .z64, .u64, .usa, .jap, .pal, .eur, .bin)

• PJ – Project 64 Save States (.pj)

• NES – Nintendo Entertainment System (.nes)

• FDS – Famicom Disk System (.fds)
• JST – Jnes Save States (.jst)
• FC? – FCEUX Save States (.fc#, where # is any character, usually a number)

• GG – Sega Game Gear (.gg)
• SMS – Sega Master System (.sms)
• SMD,BIN – Mega Drive/Sega Genesis (.smd or .bin)
• SMC,078 – Super NES (.smc, or .078) (.078 is for split ROMs, which are rare)

• FIG – Super Famicom (Japanese releases are rarely .fig, above extensions are more common)
• SRM – Super NES Saved Data Files (.srm)
• ZST – ZSNES Save States (.zst, .zs1-.zs9, .z10-.z99)
• FRZ – Snes9X Save States (.frz, .000-.008)

• PCE – TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine (.pce)
• NPC – Neo Geo Pocket (.npc)
• TZX – ZX Spectrum (.tzx) (for exact copies of ZX Spectrum games)

• TAP (for tape images without copy protection)
• Z80,SNA – (for snapshots of the emulator RAM)
• DSK – (for disk images)

• TAP – Commodore 64 (.tap) (for tape images including copy protection)

• T64 – (for tape images without copy protection, considerably smaller than .tap files)
• D64 – (for disk images)
• CRT – (for cartridge images)

• ADF – Amiga (.adf) (for 880K diskette images)

• ADZ – GZip-compressed version of the above.
• DMS – Disk Masher System, previously used as a disk-archiving system native to the Amiga, also supported by emulators.

Virtual machines

Microsoft Virtual PC, Virtual Server

• VFD – Virtual Floppy Disk (.vfd)
• VHD – Virtual Hard Disk (.vhd)
• VUD – Virtual Undo Disk (.vud)
• VMC – Virtual Machine Configuration (.vmc)
• VSV – Virtual Machine Saved State (.vsv)

EMC VMware ESX, GSX, Workstation, Player

• LOG – Virtual Machine Logfile (.log)
• VMDK, DSK – Virtual Machine Disk (.vmdk, .dsk)
• NVRAM – Virtual Machine BIOS (.nvram)
• VMEM – Virtual Machine paging file (.vmem)
• VMSD – Virtual Machine snapshot metadata (.vmsd)
• VMSN – Virtual Machine snapshot (.vmsn)
• VMSS,STD – Virtual Machine suspended state (.vmss, .std)
• VMTM – Virtual Machine team data (.vmtm)
• VMX,CFG – Virtual Machine configuration (.vmx, .cfg)
• VMXF – Virtual Machine team configuration (.vmxf)

Virtualbox

Virtual drive format used by Sun Microsystems xVM VirtualBox, an open-source desktop virtualization program; can be mounted as a hard disk on Mac, Windows, and Unix platforms; allows users to run programs written for different operating systems in a high-speed virtual environment.

• VDI – VirtualBox Virtual Disk Image (.vdi)

Parallels Workstation

Main article: Parallels Workstation

• HDD – Virtual Machine hard disk (.hdd)
• PVS – Virtual Machine preferences/configuration (.pvs)
• SAV – Virtual Machine saved state (.sav)

Webpage

• Static
  • dtd, Document Type Definition (standard), MUST be public and free
  • RNA – (.rna) – lime Network Real Native Application File
  • XML – (.xml) – eXtensible Markup Language
  • HTML – (.html, .htm) – HyperText Markup Language
  • XHTML – (.xhtml, .xht) – eXtensible HyperText Markup Language
  • MHTML – (.mht, .mhtml) – Archived HTML, store all data on one web page (text, images, etc.) in one big file
  • MAF — (.maff) — web archive based on ZIP
• Dynamically generated
  • ASP – (.asp) – Microsoft Active Server Page
  • ASPX – (.aspx) – Microsoft Active Server Page. NET
  • ADP – AOLserver Dynamic Page
  • BML – (.bml) – Better Markup Language (templating)
  • CFM – (.cfm) – ColdFusion
  • CGI – (.cgi)
  • iHTML – (.ihtml) – Inline HTML
  • JSP – (.jsp) JavaServer Pages
  • Lasso – (.las, .lasso, .lassoapp)
  • PL – Perl (.pl)
  • PHP – (.php, .php?, .phtml) – ? is version number (previously abbreviated Personal Home Page, later changed to PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor)
  • SSI – (.shtml) – HTML with Server Side Includes (Apache)
  • SSI – (.stm) – HTML with Server Side Includes (Apache)

XML, markup language, other web standards-based file formats

• Atom – (.atom, .xml) – Another syndication file format
• EML – (.eml) – File format used by several desktop email clients
• Metalink – (.metalink, .met) – A file format for listing metadata about downloads, such as mirrors, checksums, and other information.
• RSS – (.rss, .xml) – Syndication file format

Other

• AXD – cookie extensions found in temporary internet folder
• AXX – encrypted file, created with Axcrypt
• BAK – backup file
• BDF – Binary Data Format – raw data from recovered blocks of unallocated space on a hard drive
• CBP – CD Box Labeler Pro, CentraBuilder, Code::Blocks Project File, Conlab Project^[2]
• CREDX – CredX Dat File
• DUPX – DuupeCheck database management tool project file
• GA3 – Graphical Analysis 3
• GED – GEDCOM, (GEnealogical Data COMmunication) file format for exchanging genealogical data between different genealogy software.
• HLP – Windows help file
• IGC – flight tracks downloaded from GPS devices in the FAI's prescribed format
• INI file – used by many applications to store configuration
• INF – similar file format to INI; used to install device drivers under Windows, inter alia.
• KMC – tests made with KatzReview's MegaCrammer
• LNK – Binary format file, stores shortcuts under MS Windows 95 and later
• LSM – LSMaker script file (program using layered .jpg to create special effects; specifically designed to render lightsabers from the Star Wars universe) (.lsm)
• PIF – Used for running MS-DOS programs under Windows
• POR – So called "portable" SPSS files, readable by PSPP
• PXZ – Compressed file to exchange media elements with PSALMO
• RISE – File containing RISE generated information model evolution
• TOPC – TopicCrunch SEO Project file holding keywords, domain and search engine settings (ASCII);
• TOS – Character file from The Only Sheet
• TMP – Temporary file
• URL – INI format file, used by Internet Explorer to save Favorites
• XLF – Extensible LADAR Format
• ZED – My Heritage Family Tree

Cursors

• ANI – Animated Cursor
• CUR – Cursor Files

Financial records

• TAX – TurboTax File
• YNAB – You Need a Budget (YNAB) File
• MYO – MYOB Limited (Windows) File
• MYOB – MYOB Limited (Mac) File
• Nominal – Nominal Accounting (CDF) Company Data File

See also

• Alphabetical list of file extensions
• MIME Content-Type, a standard for referring to file formats
• List of motion and gesture file formats
• List of file signatures, or "magic numbers"

References

1. ^ ^{a b} (PDF) RSTS-11 System Users Guide (DEC-11-ORSUA-D-D (RSTS/E V06A-02) ed.). Digital Equipment Corporation. 1975. pp. 2-16–2-17. http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/pdp11/rsts/V06/DEC-11-ORSUA-D-D_RSTS_SystemUserGuide_Jul75.pdf. Retrieved 22 March 2011. 
2. ^ Computer Knowledge. "File Extension .CBP Details". Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. http://filext.com/file-extension/CBP. Retrieved 2009-07-26.  090707 filext.com

External links

• File formats at the Open Directory Project