What Are File Extensions?

Free Computer Help By Mitz

File extensions basically let you know what type of information is contained in a particular file. For example a note pad file has the .txt extension. This means it is a text file.

Here are some other examples of file extensions.

.exe (An executable file, usually the file that starts a program.)
.pdf (Portable Document Format, is a file format created by Adobe Systems. Most office documents come in .pdf file format.)
.zip/.rar (These could be any file but they have been compressed and packed away to a smaller size. When unpacked or unzipped it will become what it was originally.)
.wav/ .mp3 (Music files)
.jpg/.gif/.bmp (Picture file formats)

You will see most of these file extensions on your computer.

To show file extensions:

1. Open any folder on your computer.
2. Choose "Tools" - "Folder Options".
3. Click the "View" tab.
4. Uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types".
5. Click "OK" to close the dialog box.

About the Author

Mitz Pantic wrote this article. See more Free Computer Help articles.

This article is free to re-produce providing that the author's bio is included and the website links are still clickable...

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