What’s That File? An Introduction To File Extensions
In an effort to be “user-friendly,” Windows (and maybe some other operating systems) hides {probably the most} critical {component} of a file name from new personal computer users: the extension. Okay – we’re assuming that the reasoning behind hiding extensions is really a “user-friendly” {1} due to the fact we just can’t come up with any other reason for hiding them. No harm could ever come from seeing an extension, but {a lot} might be learned from it. Fortunately you’ve this post to guide you by means of a number of the most typical extensions that {you will} run into.
But just before you’ll be able to see file extensions, {you’ll need} to turn them on. From Windows Explorer, click on the “Tools” menu, and pick “File Possibilities.” Click the “View” tab and then uncheck the box next to “Hide file extensions for {recognized} file kinds.” Click “OK” and {you will} notice that the files in Windows Explorer show a dot and group of {3} letters soon after their names. That dot and group of {3} letters is {referred to as} an “extension,” along with the extension explains what {type} of file it really is.
A file might be a plain text file, an image, a sound, a video, or program. But with out seeing the extension, you wouldn’t know it unless you double-clicked on it. The following list defines a number of the most typical extensions that {you will} uncover on your pc.
.au – This extension indicates a sound file. Most sound players will load up and play this {type} of file.
.art – This extension indicates an image file that was compressed with AOL (America On the web) {technologies}. Both Net Explorer and also the AOL service software can display this {type} of file, nevertheless in case you {do not} have AOL installed on your system, Web Explorer will display it.
.avi – This extension indicates a video file playable by most multimedia viewers such as Microsoft’s Media Player.
.bmp – This extension indicates one more image file that may have originated from Windows Paint program.
.dll – This extension indicates a Dynamic Link Library which may possibly contain {extra} programming code for software. Several distinct programs typically share Dynamic Link Libraries and {you will} discover a bunch of them inside the Windows/System directory (but {do not} ever delete them)!
.exe – This extension indicates a program or an application like Microsoft Word, Net Explorer, or Outlook Express. Use extreme caution when downloading .exe files from the net considering that malicious programmers like to hide viruses in these varieties of files.
.gif – This extension indicates yet another image file and it stands for “Graphics Interchange Format.” .Gif files are usually smaller than .bmp files (described earlier) and they’re commonly {discovered} on Net {internet} pages.
.jpg – This extension indicates yet one more image file and it stands for “Joint Photographers Professionals Group.” Like the .gif file, {it is} commonly {discovered} on Web {internet} pages, even so {it is} a lot smaller than both the .gif image and also the .bmp image.
.mid – This extension indicates a sound file developed {having a} Musical Instrument Digital Interface. Windows Media Player will open and run these files, nevertheless they {do not} sound like regular .wav or .mp3 files (described later). .Mid files are created to {item} synthetic sounds utilizing a computer’s sound card.
.mp3 – This extension indicates a sound file that authentically reproduces voice and/or music. Windows Media Player will open and run this {type} of file.
.scr – This extension indicates a screen saver file.
.sit – This extension indicates a Macintosh archive StuffIt file. They’ll not open on a Windows system without having a {unique} utility.
.ttf – This extension indicates a font specifically developed for use on a Windows system. It stands for “True Sort Font.”
.txt – This extension indicates a plain text file that could be opened with Notepad.
.wav – This extension indicates a sound file that like the .mp3 file, may be opened with Windows Media Player or Windows Sound Recorder. .Wav files are significantly {bigger} than .mp3 files.
.zip – This extension indicates a Windows archive WinZip file. They are going to not open on a Macintosh system with out a {unique} utility.
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