This is a list of computer file formats, categorized by domain. Some formats are listed under multiple categories. Most of the file endings are traditionally written lower case (example: .png)
Each format is identified by a phrase that is the format's full or abbreviated name. The typical file name extension used for a format is included in parentheses if it differs from the identifier, ignoring case.
The use of file name extension varies by operating system and file system. Some older file systems, such as File Allocation Table (FAT), limited an extension to 3 characters, but modern systems do not. Microsoft operating systems (i.e. MS-DOS and Windows) depend more on the extension to associate contextual and semantic meaning to a file than Unix-based systems.
Archive and compressed
?Q? – files that are compressed, often by the SQ program. 7Z – 7-zip compressed file ACE – ace: ACE compressed file ALZ – ALZip compressed file ARC – pre-Zip data compression ARJ – ARJ compressed file BZ2 – bzip2 CAB – A cabinet file is a library of compressed files stored as one file. Cabinet files are used to organize installation files that are copied to the user's system. CPT, SEA – Compact Pro (Macintosh) EGG – Alzip Egg Edition compressed file EGT – EGT Universal Document also used to create compressed cabinet files, replaces .ecab ECAB, EZIP – EGT Compressed Folder used in advanced systems to compress entire system folders, replaced by EGT Universal Document ESS – EGT SmartSense File, detects files compressed using the EGT compression system. FLIPCHART – Used in Promethean Flipchart Software. FUN – A FUN file often will be a file that has been encrypted by Jigsaw ransomware, which is malware distributed by cybercriminals; it contains a file, such as a .JPG, .DOCX, .XLSX, .MP4, or .CSV file, that has been renamed and encrypted by the virus. GZ – gzip Compressed file G3FC – Zstd based file container with support for encryption and FEC IC — A renamed gzip Compressed file used for save files of the online game Infinite Craft JAR – A Java application in a ZIP file based format LAWRENCE – LBR Lawrence Compiler Type file LBR – LBR Library file LZH – LHA Lempel, Ziv, Huffman LZ – lzip Compressed file LZO – lzo LZMA – lzma Lempel–Ziv–Markov chain algorithm compressed file LZX – LZX MBW – MBRWizard archive BIN – BIN MacBinary OAR – OAR: OAR archive PAK – Enhanced type of .ARC archive PAR, PAR2 – PAR Parchive PAF – PAF Portable Application File PEA – PEA PeaZip archive file PKG - A package format that bundles installation files for software on macOS and PlayStation. PYK – PYK compressed file RAR – Rar Archive, for multiple file archive (rar to .r01–.r99 to .s01, and so on) RaX – Archive file created by RaX SITX – SIT StuffIt (Macintosh) TAR – A group of files packaged as one file 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.
XZ – xz compressed files, based on LZMA/LZMA2 algorithm Z – Unix compress file ZOO – Archival format based on LZW ZIP – A popular compression format
Application packages AAB – An Android App Bundle, which is the Android (and Android TV) application publishing format (required by Google Play) taking over from APK APK – An Android package, or a application installable on Android. (also installable in derivatives). Additionally, package format of the Alpine Linux distribution APPX – Microsoft Application Package APP – HarmonyOS APP Packs file format for HarmonyOS apps installable from AppGallery and third party OpenHarmony based app distribution stores DMG – Application file on Macintosh devices; used by all third-party apps and some direct Apple Inc. applications DEB – Debian install package HPKG – Haiku application package format IPG – Format in which Apple Inc. packages their iPod games; can be extracted through WinRAR (and other file archivers) MSI – Windows installation package RPM – Red Hat package/installer for Fedora, RHEL, and similar systems SIS, SISX – Symbian Application Packages XAP – Windows Phone Application Package
Physical recordable media archiving ADF – Amiga floppy disks archive ADZ – GZip-compressed version of ADF B5T – BlindWrite 5 image file B6T – BlindWrite 6 image file BWT – BlindWrite 4 image file BIN – Raw binary format, often paired with CUE CDI – DiscJuggler image file CUE – CDRWrite CUE image file CIF – Easy CD Creator .cif format C2D – Roxio-WinOnCD .c2d format DAA – PowerISO .daa format D64 – Commodore 64 floppy disk archive DAA – Closed-format, Windows-only compressed disk image DMG – Macintosh disk image files DMS – 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. ESD – Electronic Software Distribution, a compressed and encrypted WIM File FFPPKG – FreeFire Profile Export Package GHO, GHS – GHO Norton Ghost IMG – Raw disk image, for archiving DOS formatted floppy disks, hard drives, and larger optical media ISO – Generic format for most optical media, including CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, Wii, Blu-ray, HD DVD, and UMD MDS – Daemon Tools native disc image format used for making images from optical CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, HD DVD, or Blu-ray; it comes together with MDF file and can be mounted with DAEMON Tools MDX – Daemon Tools format that allows getting one MDX disc image file instead of two (MDF and MDS) NRG – Proprietary optical media archive format used by Nero applications SDI – Archives and provides "virtual disk" functionality SWM – Split WIM File, usually found on OEM Recovery Partition to store preinstalled Windows image, and to make Recovery backup (to USB Drive) easier (due to FAT32 limitations) TIB – TIB Acronis True Image backup WIM – Compressed disk image used for installing Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PC, Windows Vista or higher, or for restoring a system image made from Backup and Restore (Windows Vista and 7) VHD / VDHX – Virtual disk created by Hyper-V (Hyper-V runs on Microsoft Windows)
Computer-aided extensions 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. 3DXML – Dassault Systèmes graphic representation 3MF – 3D Manufacturing Format ACP – VA Software VA – Virtual Architecture CAD file AMF – Additive Manufacturing File Format AEC – DataCAD drawing format AEDT – Ansys Electronic Desktop – Project file AR – Ashlar-Vellum Argon – 3D Modeling ART – ArtCAM model ASC – BRL-CAD Geometry File (old ASCII format) ASM – Solidedge Assembly, Pro/ENGINEER Assembly BREP – Open CASCADE 3D model (shape) C3D – C3D Toolkit File Format C3P – Construct3 Files 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 CKD – KeyCreator CAD parts, assemblies, and drawings CKT – KeyCreator template file CO – Ashlar-Vellum Cobalt – parametric drafting and 3D modeling DAB – AppliCad 3D model CAD file DRW – Caddie Early version of Caddie drawing (prior to Caddie changing to DWG) 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 DWG – Popular format for Computer Aided Drafting applications, notably AutoCAD, Open Design Alliance applications, and Autodesk Inventor. EASM – SolidWorks eDrawings assembly file EDRW – eDrawings drawing file EMB – Wilcom's EmbroideryStudio and Hatch Embroidery CAD file EPRT – eDrawings part file EscPcb – "esCAD pcb" data file by Electro-System (Japan) EscSch – "esCAD sch" data file by Electro-System (Japan) ESW – AGTEK format EXCELLON – Excellon file EXP – Drawing Express format F3D – Autodesk Fusion 360 archive file FCStd – Native format for FreeCAD CAD/CAM packages FM – FeatureCAM Part File FMZ – FormZ Project file G – BRL-CAD Geometry File GBR – Gerber file GCODE – G-code Geometric code; contains instructions for 3D printers GLM – KernelCAD model GRB – T-FLEX CAD File GRI – AppliCad GRIM-In file in readable text form for importing roof and wall cladding job data generated by business management and accounting systems into modelling/estimating programs GRO – AppliCad GRIM-Out file in readable text form for exporting roof and wall cladding data job material and labor costing data, material lists generated by modelling/estimating programs to business management and accounting systems 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 DGN, CEL – Intergraph Standard File Formats Intergraph IO – Stud.io 3D model IPN – Autodesk Inventor Presentation file IPT – Autodesk Inventor Part file JT – Jupiter Tesselation MCD – Monu-CAD (Monument/Headstone Drawing file) MDG – Model of Digital Geometric Kernel model – CATIA V4 part document OCD – Orienteering Computer Aided Design (OCAD) file PAR – Solidedge Part PART – A file used with Stud.Io PIPE – PIPE-FLO Professional Piping system design file PLN – ArchiCad project PIXIL – Pixilart.com file PRT – NX (recently known as Unigraphics), Pro/ENGINEER Part, CADKEY Part PSM – Solidedge Sheet PSMODEL – PowerSHAPE Model PWI – PowerINSPECT File PYT – Pythagoras File RLF – ArtCAM Relief RVM – AVEVA PDMS 3D Review model RVT – Autodesk Revit project files RFA – Autodesk Revit family files RFT – Autodesk Revit Revit Family Template RXF – AppliCad annotated 3D roof and wall geometry data in readable text form used to exchange 3D model geometry with other systems such as truss design software S12 – Spirit file, by Softtech SCAD – OpenSCAD 3D part model SCDOC – SpaceClaim 3D Part/Assembly SHAPR – Shapr3D SKB – Google SketchUp backup File SKP – Sketchup SLDASM – SolidWorks Assembly drawing SLDDRW – SolidWorks 2D drawing SLDPRT – SolidWorks 3D part model dotXSI – For Softimage STATE – A file used by the IaC tool to record information about what has been deployed by the tool. STEP – Standard for the Exchange of Product model data STL – Stereo Lithographic data format used by various CAD systems and stereo lithographic printing machines. STD – Power Vision Plus – Electricity Meter Data (Circuitor) SVF - Autodesk proprietary model format SVF2 - Updated SVF format type 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. X_B – Parasolids binary format X_T – Parasolids XE – Ashlar-Vellum Xenon – for associative 3D modeling ZOFZPROJ – ZofzPCB 3D PCB model, containing mesh, netlist and BOM
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