Various File Extensions

Various File Extensions

A filename extension is the type of code or metadata that is added to the end of a computer file name to indicate the file format(program) of its contents. For example in Microsoft Windows, a spreadsheet in the ‘Excel’ program will have the suffix ‘.exl’ automatically added to whatever name the file is saved in, (in some later systems such as Windows XP this suffix is not visible).

Filename extensions are not optional in many operating systems and are usually restricted to three character long codes, but some systems like RISC OS do not use filename extensions at all, and have different ways of imbedding this format data.

There are many filename extensions in existence and File-Extension.com provides a free online service that includes a detailed file extension library, with information on what formats file extensions refer to, and what these formats are used for. This site also provides advice on how to fix typical filename extension errors.

For example the file extension ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is supported by many different operating systems, and can contain file system metadata, such as boot code and attributes in a single file, making it ideal for distributing downloadable software over the Internet. Sometimes when trying to read or download an ISO file you can encounter errors, and this may be because your system does not have the appropriate program installed to open an ISO file, or that the system itself has a bad file association problem. This occurs when the system cannot read the file format suffix or code correctly, and so cannot associate the file to the application capable of running the program. Bad file associations are one of the main causes of file errors, and File-Extension.com offers a free file association scan, that will identify any association errors and help prevent them from occurring in the future.

This site also offers free scans for performance in order for you to optimize memory and processor usage, and a driver scan, which will search out any outdated programs that run devices that are now longer used (such as old printers), which may be cluttering your system causing errors or slow operating speeds. 

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