List of file formats


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, at least on Linux/Unix, such as.gz,.class, and very often on Windows too, e.g..exe. Windows is case insensitive so you can not have a file name duplicated with same or even different content, with e.g. the ending in a different case, but you could e.g. on Linux, with e.g. with different file with.CLASS ending with different content, so it's best to standardize endings on lower case.
Each format is identified by a capitalized word 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, limited an extension to 3 characters but modern systems do not. Microsoft operating systems 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
  • 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 is 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
  • 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
  • MCADDON – Plugin for Minecraft Bedrock
  • 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
  • PYK – PYK compressed file
  • RAR – Rar Archive, for multiple file archive
  • RaX – Archive file created by RaX
  • SITX – SIT StuffIt
  • 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 application publishing format taking over from APK
  • APK – An Android package, or an applications installable on Android ; also a 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.
  • MSI – Windows installation file
  • 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, 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.
  • 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 easier
  • 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.

    Other extensions

  • .CRDOWNLOAD – "Chrome Partial Download" file created by Chromium-based browsers such as Google Chrome. They contain the current portion of a file that has already been downloaded while a download is in progress. The file extension automatically reverts to the original when the download is complete.
  • VDHX – Virtual disk created by Hyper-V
  • PLIST - Short for Property List, stores data in XML-like format on Apple Inc devices

    Computer-aided extensions

Computer-aided is a prefix for several categories of tools which assist professionals in their respective fields.

Computer-aided design (CAD)

software assists engineers, architects and other design professionals in project design.
  • 3DXML – Dassault Systèmes graphic representation
  • 3MF – Microsoft 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
  • ASM – Solidedge Assembly, Pro/ENGINEER Assembly
  • BREP – Open CASCADE 3D model
  • 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 ES Designer Embroidery CAD file
  • EPRT – eDrawings part file
  • EscPcb – "esCAD pcb" data file by Electro-System
  • EscSch – "esCAD sch" data file by Electro-System
  • 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. 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
  • MDG – Model of Digital Geometric Kernel
  • model – CATIA V4 part document
  • OCD – Orienteering Computer Aided Design 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, 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
  • 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
  • TCT – TurboCAD drawing template
  • TCW – TurboCAD for Windows 2D and 3D drawing
  • UNV – I-DEAS I-DEAS
  • 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)

, or electronic computer-aided design, 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 system-on-a-chip implementation
  • DEF – Gate-level layout
  • Detailed Standard Parasitic Format – Detailed Standard Parasitic Format, Analog-level Parastic component of interconnections in IC design
  • EDIF – Vendor neutral gate-level netlist format
  • FSDB – Analog waveform format
  • 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
  • Liberty – Library modeling format
  • MS12 – NI Multisim file
  • OASIS – Open Artwork System Interchange Standard
  • OpenAccess – Design database format with APIs
  • PSF – Cadence proprietary format to store simulation results/waveforms
  • PSFXL – Cadence proprietary format to store simulation results/waveforms
  • SDC – Synopsys Design Constraints, format for synthesis constraints
  • SDF – Standard for gate-level timings
  • SPEF – Standard format for Parasitic component 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
  • SST2 – Cadence proprietary format to store mixed-signal simulation results/waveforms
  • STIL – Standard Test Interface Language, IEEE1450-1999 standard for Test Patterns for IC
  • SV – SystemVerilog source file
  • S*P – Touchstone/EEsof Scattering parameter data file – multi-port blackbox performance, measurement or simulated
  • TLF – Contains timing and logical information about a collection of cells
  • 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
  • WGL – Waveform Generation Language, format for Test Patterns for IC

    Test technology

Files output from Automatic Test Equipment or post-processed from such.
These files store formatted text and plain text.
These file formats allow for the rapid creation of new binary file formats.
  • IFDS – Incredibly Flexible Data Storage file format. File extension and the magic number does not have to be IFDS.

    Geographic information system

  • ASC – ASCII point of interest text file
  • APR – ESRI ArcView 3.3 and earlier project file
  • DEM – USGS DEM file format
  • E00 – ARC/INFO interchange file format
  • GeoJSON – Geographically located data in object notation
  • TopoJSON – Extension of GeoJSON with topology encoded in arcs for web development
  • GeoTIFF – Geographically located raster data
  • GML – Geography Markup Language file
  • GPX – XML-based interchange format
  • ITN – TomTom Itinerary format
  • MXD – ESRI ArcGIS project file, 8.0 and higher
  • NTF – National Transfer Format file
  • OV2 – TomTom POI overlay file
  • SHP – ESRI shapefile
  • TAB – MapInfo TAB format
  • GeoTIFF – 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, it is a form of 3D concept map used to organize ideas, information, and computer files
  • ATY – 3D Topicscape file, produced when an association type is exported; used to permit round-trip
  • 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
  • MGMF – MindGenius Mind Mapping Software file format
  • MM – FreeMind mind map file
  • MMP – Mind Manager mind map file
  • MUP – File type used by to export editable Mind Maps
  • TPC – 3D Topicscape file, produced when an inter-Topicscape topic link file is exported to Windows; used to permit round-trip

    Graphics

Color palettes

  • ACT – Adobe Color Table. Contains a raw color palette and consists of 256 24-bit RGB colour values.
  • ASE – Adobe Swatch Exchange. Used by Adobe Substance, Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
  • GPL – GIMP palette file. Uses a text representation of color names and RGB values. Various open source graphical editors can read this format, including GIMP, Inkscape, Krita, KolourPaint, Scribus, CinePaint, and MyPaint.
  • PAL – Microsoft RIFF palette file

    Color management

  • ICC, ICM – Color profile conforming the specification of the ICC.

    Raster graphics

files store images as a group of pixels.
use geometric primitives such as points, lines, curves, and polygons to represent images.
  • 3DV file – 3-D wireframe graphics by Oscar Garcia
  • AMF – Additive Manufacturing File Format
  • AWG – Ability Draw
  • AI – Adobe Illustrator Document
  • CGM – Computer Graphics Metafile, an ISO Standard
  • CDR – CorelDRAW Document
  • CMX – CorelDRAW vector image
  • DP – Drawing Program file for PERQ
  • DRAWIO – Diagrams.net offline diagram
  • 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
  • EPS – Encapsulated Postscript
  • FS – FlexiPro file.x
  • GBR – Gerber file
  • ODG – OpenDocument Drawing
  • MOVIE.BYU – 3D Vector file for polygons, coordinates and more complex shapes
  • RenderMan – Displays Shading in both 2D and 3D scapes
  • SVG – Scalable Vector Graphics, employs XML
  • 3DMLW – Scene description languages
  • STL – Stereo Lithographic data format used by various CAD systems and stereo lithographic printing machines. See above.
  • WRL – Virtual Reality Modeling Language, VRML Uses this extension for the creation of 3D viewable web images.
  • X3D – XML-based file for communicating 3D graphics
  • SXD – OpenOffice.org XML Drawing
  • TGAX – Texture format used by Zwift
  • V2D – voucher design used by the voucher management included in JFire
  • VDOC – Vector format used in AnyCut, CutStorm, DrawCut, DragonCut, FutureDRAW, MasterCut, SignMaster, VinylMaster software by Future Corporation
  • VSD – Vector format used by Microsoft Visio
  • VSDX – Vector format used by MS Visio and opened by VSDX Annotator
  • VND – Vision numeric Drawing file used in TypeEdit, Gravostyle.
  • WMF – Windows Meta File
  • EMF – Enhanced MetaFile, an extension to WMF
  • ART – Xara–Drawing
  • XAR – Xara–Drawing

    3D graphics

are 3D models that allow building models in real-time or non-real-time 3D rendering.
Native executable formats include: executable file, object file, and shared library, but exclude executable files that are not executed via a processor-native mechanism.
Object extensions:
Molecular biology and bioinformatics:
Authentication and general encryption formats are listed here.
This section shows file formats for encrypted general data, rather than a specific program's data.
  • AXX – Encrypted file, created with AxCrypt or Xecrets Ez
  • EEA – An encrypted CAB, ostensibly for protecting email attachments
  • TC – Virtual encrypted disk container, created by TrueCrypt
  • KODE – Encrypted file, created with KodeFile
  • nSignE – An encrypted private key, created by nSign

    Password files

files contain lists of other passwords, usually encrypted.
  • BPW – Encrypted password file created by Bitser password manager
  • KDB – KeePass 1 database
  • KDBX – KeePass 2 database

    Signal data (non-audio)

  • ACQ – AcqKnowledge format for Windows/PC from Biopac
  • ADICHT – LabChart format from ADInstruments
  • BKR – The EEG data format developed at the University of Technology Graz
  • BDF, CFG – Configuration file for Comtrade data
  • CFWB – Chart Data format from ADInstruments
  • DAT – Raw data file for Comtrade data
  • 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
  • SAC – Seismic Analysis Code, earthquake seismology data format
  • SCP-ECG – Standard Communication Protocol for Computer assisted electrocardiography
  • SEED, MSEED – Standard for the Exchange of Earthquake Data, seismological data and sensor metadata
  • SEGY – Reflection seismology data format
  • SIGIF – SIGnal Interchange Format
  • WIN, WIN32 – NIED/ERI seismic data format

    Sound and music

Lossless">Audio compression (data)#Difficulties in lossless compression of audio data">Lossless audio

Uncompressed

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

osu!

These formats are used by the video game osu!.
  • OSB – storyboard data
  • OSC – osu!stream combined stream data
  • OSF2 – free osu!stream song file
  • OSG – compressed live gameplay archive
  • OSK – compressed skin archive
  • OSR – compressed replay archive
  • OSU – beatmap data
  • OSZ – compressed beatmap archive
  • OLZ – compressed beatmap archive, can only be opened by osu!
  • OSZ2 – paid osu!stream song file

    ''Minecraft''

These formats are used by the video game Minecraft.
  • MCADDON – Bedrock Edition add-ons and resource packs
  • MCFUNCTION – functions/scripts
  • MCMETA – customizable texture packs
  • MCPACK – Bedrock Edition in-game texture packs and full add-ons
  • MCR – data for in-game worlds before version 1.2
  • MCTEMPLATE – Bedrock Edition world templates
  • MCWORLD – Bedrock Edition in-game worlds
  • MCA – format used by Java Edition for storing data for in-game worlds
  • NBT – format used by Java Edition for storing program variables along with their type identifiers
  • NBS – used by Note Block Studio, a tool that can be used to make songs with note blocks in-game
  • EPK – used by Eaglercraft, an AOT compiled port of Minecraft which has been modified to run under TeaVM, a Java emulator for HTML5 & JavaScript, for saving world data, resource packs, profiles and more.

    TrackMania/Maniaplanet Engine

Formats used by games based on the TrackMania engine.
  • GBX – All user-created content is stored in this file type.
  • * REPLAY.GBX – Stores the replay of a race.
  • * CHALLENGE.GBX, MAP.GBX – Stores tracks/maps.
  • * SYSTEMCONFIG.GBX – Launcher info.
  • * TRACKMANIAVEHICLE.GBX – Info about a certain car type.
  • * VEHICLETUNINGS.GBX – Vehicle physics.
  • * SOLID.GBX – A block's model.
  • * ITEM.GBX – Custom Maniaplanet item.
  • * BLOCK.GBX – Custom Maniaplanet block.
  • * TEXTURE.GBX – Info about a texture that are used in materials.
  • * MATERIAL.GBX – Info about a material such as surface type that are used in Solids.
  • * TMEDCLASSIC.GBX – Block info.
  • * GHOST.GBX – Player ghosts in Trackmania and TrackMania Turbo.
  • * CONTROLSTYLE.GBX – Menu files.
  • * SCORES.GBX – Stores info about the player's best times.
  • * PROFILE.GBX – Stores a player's info such as their login.
  • DDS – Almost every texture in the game uses this format.
  • PAK – Stores environment data such as valid blocks.
  • LOC – A locator. Locators allow the game to download content such as car skins from an external server.
  • SCRIPT.TXT – Scripts for Maniaplanet such as menus and game modes.
  • XML – ManiaLinks.

    CPA Engine (OpenSpace)

Formats used by Ubisoft Montpellier's CPA Engine, or OpenSpace as the enhanced version developed by Ubisoft Montreal was known.
  • MOD – Object file type used for geometrical 3D objects.
  • LVL – Level objects file type used for actor references.
  • LGT – Level lighting file used for lighting in worlds.
  • TEX – Image file used for level textures.
  • GMT – Level material file used for material definitions.
  • VMT – Level visual materials file used for visual material definitions.
  • SPO – Level superobject hierarchy file used for superobject definitions.
  • SCT – Level sector hierarchy file used for sector definitions.
  • CAR – Actor data file.
  • MEM – Memory block description file.

    [Doom engine]

Formats used by games based on the Doom engine.
  • WAD – Data storage
  • DEH – DeHackEd files to mutate the game executable
  • DSG – Saved game
  • LMP – A "lump", an entry in a WAD file
  • LMP – Saved demo recording
  • MUS – Music file

    ''Quake'' engine">Quake engine">''Quake'' engine

Formats used by games based on the Quake engine.
  • BSP – BSP: compiled map format
  • MAP – MAP: Raw map format used by editors like GtkRadiant or QuArK
  • MDL, MD2, MD3, MD5 – MDL/MD2/MD3/MD5: Model for an item used in the game
  • PAK, PK2 – PAK/PK2: Data storage
  • PK3, PK4 – 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 – not specific file type, often generic extension for "data" files for a variety of applications, sometimes used for general data contained within the PK3/PK4 files
  • * FONTDAT – a DAT file used for formatting game fonts
  • ROQ – Video format
  • SAV – Savegame/Savefile format

    [Unreal Engine]

Formats used by games based on the Unreal engine.
  • FUK – Map File for Postal 2
  • U – Unreal script format
  • UASSET – An asset format since Unreal Engine 4/5.
  • UAX – Animations format for Unreal Engine 2.
  • UMAP – Map file type for Unreal Engine and levels.
  • 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 a client downloaded from server

    ''[Duke Nukem 3D]'' Engine

Formats used by games based on this engine.
  • DMO – Save game
  • GRP – Data storage
  • MAP – Map

    ''Diablo'' Engine

Formats used by Diablo by Blizzard Entertainment.
  • SV – Save Game
  • ITM – Item File

    Real Virtuality">Real Virtuality (engine)">Real Virtuality Engine

Formats used by Bohemia Interactive. Operation:Flashpoint, ARMA 2, VBS2
  • LIP – Format that is created from WAV files to create in-game accurate lip-sync for character animations.
  • PBO – Binarized file used for compiled models
  • SQF – Format used for general editing
  • SQM – Format used for mission files

    [Roblox Studio] engine

  • RBXL – Roblox Studio place file
  • RBXM – Roblox Studio model file
  • RBXLX – Roblox Studio place file
  • RBXMX – Roblox Studio model file

    Platinum Games">PlatinumGames">Platinum Games engine

Formats used in Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Bayonetta, Vanquish, Nier: Automata
  • DAT, DTT, EVN, EFF, EFT – Data containers, acts similarly to a folder, but can only have one layer of depth
  • WMB – Mesh data
  • SCR – Collection of WMBs to makeup levels and scenes.
  • WTA – Texture definitions and flags
  • WTP – Raw texture data
  • WTB – Combination of both WTA and WTP, with WTA first, then WTP after
  • TRG – Controls the flow of in-game events and calls functions in code
  • BXM – Binary-encoded and compressed XML data
  • EST – Effect data for the ESP effects system
  • EF2 – Effect data for the EF2 effects system
  • MOT – Motion capture animation data

    Other formats

  • ARC – Nintendo U8 archive
  • B – used for Grand Theft Auto saved game files
  • BBKEYMAP – Blockbench keybindings
  • BBSETTINGS – Blockbench settings
  • BBTHEME – Blockbench theme
  • BOL – used for levels on Poing!PC
  • CGB – Pokémon Black and White/Black 2 and White 2 C-Gear skins
  • CORRU – save file format for corru.observer
  • DBPF – The Sims 2, DBPF, Package
  • DDZ – a file which can only be used by the "daydreamer engine" created by "fever-dreamer", a program similar to RAGS, it's mainly used to make somewhat short games.
  • DIVA – Project DIVA timings, element coordinates, MP3 references, notes, animation poses and scores.
  • ESM, ESP – Master and Plugin data archives for the Creation Engine
  • FRAME – save file format for the ::/FRAME/ save mod
  • GCF – format used by the Steam content management system for file archives
  • GMD – Geometry Dash level data
  • HAMBU – format used by the Aidan's Funhouse game RGTW for storing map data
  • HE0, HE2, HE4 – HE games File
  • IMG – format used by Renderware-based Grand Theft Auto games for data storage
  • JBEAM – format used in BeamNG.Drive to define the physical structure of a vehicle
  • LLSP3 – Lego Spike program file
  • LOVE – format used by the LOVE2D Engine
  • MAP – format used by Halo: Combat Evolved for archive compression, Doom 3, and various other games
  • MLOG – A file format intended to be used for Mindustry logic
  • MSAV – A file format used to store Mindustrys map and save data.
  • MSCH – A file format used to store Mindustrys schematic data.
  • MPQ – MPQ Archives used by Blizzard Entertainment
  • NL2PKG – NoLimits 2 Package
  • OEC – format used by OE-Cake! for scene data storage
  • P3D – format for panda3d by Disney
  • PLAGUEINC – format used by Plague Inc. for storing custom scenario information
  • POD – format used by Terminal Reality
  • RAG, RAGS – Game file, a game playable in the RAGS game-engine, a free program which both allows people to create games, and play games, games created have the format "RAG game file"
  • RCT – Used for templates and save files in RollerCoaster Tycoon games
  • REP – used by Blizzard Entertainment for scenario replays in StarCraft
  • RIQ – Used in Heaven Studio to store custom remixes
  • Simcity, 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.
  • SOLITAIRETHEME8 – A solitaire theme for Windows solitaire
  • UNI, UNIS – Super Mario UniMaker level data
  • USLD – format used by Unison Shift to store level layouts.
  • VIV – Archive format used to compress data for several video games, including Need for Speed: High Stakes.
  • VOL – video game data package
  • VVVVVV – format used by VVVVVV
  • CPS – format used by The Powder Toy, Powder Toy save
  • STM – format used by The Powder Toy, Powder Toy stamp
  • PKG – format used by Bungie for the PC Beta of Destiny 2, for nearly all the game's assets.
  • CHR – format used by Team Salvato, for the character files of Doki Doki Literature Club!
  • Z5 – format used by Z-machine for story files in interactive fiction.
  • SCWORLD – format used by Survivalcraft to store sandbox worlds.
  • SCSKIN – format used by Survivalcraft to store player skins.
  • SCBTEX – format used by Survivalcraft to store block textures.
  • PRISON – format used by Prison Architect to save prisons
  • ESCAPE – format used by Prison Architect to save escape attempts
  • WBFS –
  • GBA – Game Boy Advance ROM File
  • JKR – format used by Balatro for data storage
  • PSS – Sony PlayStation 2 Game Video file and is used to store audio and video data by games for the PlayStation 2 console.
  • FNFC – Friday Night Funkin' Chart File
  • ARC – Nintendo U8 Archive
  • SZS – Nintendo Yaz0 Compressed Archive
  • EGF – Educational Game Format

    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 read-only memory 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 one file or ROM, rather an entire file or ROM structure contained within one file on the backup medium.

[Microsoft Virtual PC], Virtual Server">Microsoft Virtual Server">Virtual Server

  • VFD – Virtual Floppy Disk
  • VHD – Virtual Hard Disk
  • VUD – Virtual Undo Disk
  • VMC – Virtual Machine Configuration
  • VSV – Virtual Machine Saved State

    [VMware] ESX, GSX, Workstation">VMware Workstation">Workstation, Player">VMware Player">Player

  • LOG – Virtual Machine Logfile
  • VMDK, DSK – Virtual Machine Disk
  • NVRAM – Virtual Machine BIOS
  • VMEM – Virtual Machine paging file
  • VMSD – Virtual Machine snapshot metadata
  • VMSN – Virtual Machine snapshot
  • VMSS, STD – Virtual Machine suspended state
  • VMTM – Virtual Machine team data
  • VMX, CFG – Virtual Machine configuration
  • VMXF – Virtual Machine team configuration

    [VirtualBox]

  • VBOX – VirtualBox machine
  • VDI – VirtualBox virtual disk image
  • VBOX-EXTPACK – VirtualBox extension pack

    [Parallels Workstation]

  • HDD – Virtual Machine hard disk
  • PVS – Virtual Machine preferences/configuration
  • SAV – Virtual Machine saved state

    [QEMU]

  • COW – Copy-on-write
  • QCOW – QEMU copy-on-write
  • QCOW2 – QEMU copy-on-write – version 2
  • QED – QEMU enhanced disk format

    Web page

Static
  • CHM - Microsoft Compiled HTML Help page
  • DTD – Document Type Definition, MUST be public and free
  • HTML, HTM – HyperText Markup Language
  • XHTML, XHT – XHTML eXtensible HyperText Markup Language
  • MHT, MHTML – MHTML Archived HTML, store all data on one web page in one big file
  • MAFF – MAF web archive based on ZIP
Dynamically generated
  • ASP – ASP Microsoft Active Server Page
  • ASPX – ASPX Microsoft Active Server Page. NET
  • ADP – ADP AOLserver Dynamic Page
  • BML – BML Better Markup Language
  • CFM – CFM ColdFusion
  • CGI – CGI
  • IHTML – iHTML Inline HTML
  • JSP – JSP JavaServer Pages
  • LAS, LASSO, LASSOAPP – Lasso, A file created or served with the Lasso Programming Language
  • PL – Perl
  • PHP, PHP?, PHTML – PHP ? is version number
  • SHTML – SSI HTML with Server Side Includes
  • STM – SSI HTML with Server Side Includes

    Markup languages and other web standards-based formats

  • ATOM, XML – Atom Another syndication format.
  • EML – EML Format used by several desktop email clients.
  • JSONLD – JSON-LD A JSON-based serialization for linked data.
  • KPRX – KPRX A XML-based serialization for workflow definition generated by K2.
  • MARKDOWN, MD – Markdown Plain text formatting syntax, which is popularly used to format "readme" files.
  • METALINK, MET – Metalink A format to list metadata about downloads, such as mirrors, checksums, and other information.
  • MHTML – Mime HTML code file
  • PS – PS A XML-based serialization for test automation scripts called PowerScripts for K2 based applications.
  • RSS, XML – RSS Syndication format.
  • SE – Shuttle Another lightweight markup language.

    Other web-related formats

  • ZIM – ZIM: an open file format that stores wiki content for offline usage
  • HTACCESS – htaccess: Apache access configuration on a per-directory basis
  • CONF, CONFIG – Configuration file: Configuration files containing webserver configuration
  • JSON – JSON: Configuration or arbitrary static data

    Other

  • AXD – cookie extensions found in temporary internet folder
  • 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
  • CEX – SolidWorks Enterprise PDM Vault File
  • COL – Nintendo GameCube proprietary collision file
  • CREDX – CredX Dat File
  • DDB – Generating code for Vocaloid singers voice
  • DDI – Vocaloid phoneme library
  • DUPX – DuupeCheck database management tool project file
  • FTM – Family Tree Maker data file
  • FTMB – Family Tree Maker backup file
  • GA3 – Graphical Analysis 3
  • GED – GEDCOM format to exchange genealogy data between different genealogy software
  • HLP – Windows or CP/M help file
  • IGC – flight tracks downloaded from GPS devices in the FAI's prescribed format
  • INF – similar format to INI file; used to install device drivers under Windows, inter alia.
  • JAM – JAM Message Base Format for BBSes
  • KMC – tests made with KatzReview's MegaCrammer
  • KCL – Nintendo GameCube/Wii proprietary collision file
  • KTR – Hitachi Vantara Pentaho Data Integration/Kettle Transformation Project file
  • LNK – Microsoft Windows format for Hyperlinks to Executables
  • LSM – LSMaker script file
  • MCR – a macro recording file for Super Macro software
  • MELSAVE – Save file used in the game Melon Sandbox
  • MELMOD – Mod file used in the game Melon Sandbox
  • MELMAP – Map file used in the game Melon Sandbox
  • MELWORLD – World file used in the game Melon Sandbox
  • MELROPE – Rope file used in the game Melon Sandbox
  • NARC – archive format used in Nintendo DS games
  • NTH – NTH: Nokia Theme Used by Nokia Series 40 cellphones
  • OER – AU OER Tool, Open Educational Resource editor
  • PA – Used to assign sound effects to materials in KCL files
  • PIF – Used to run 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
  • SCR – Windows Screen Saver file
  • TOPC – TopicCrunch SEO Project file holding keywords, domain, and search engine settings
  • WHEEL – JSON-formatted file for storing wheel names and images. These files can be opened, viewed, and modified on the website.
  • XLF – Utah State University Extensible LADAR Format
  • XMC – Assisted contact lists format, based on XML and used in kindergartens and schools
  • ZED – My Heritage Family Tree
  • ZONE – Zone file a text file containing a DNS zone
  • FX – Microsoft DirectX plain text effects and properties for the associated file and are used to specify the textures, shading, rendering, lighting and other 3D effects
  • MIFRAMES – keyframes file
  • MILANGUAGE – language data file
  • MIDATA – data file
  • BCA – Short for Burst Cutting Area Holds the information of the circular area near the center of a DVD, HD DVD or Blu-ray Disc, it is usually 64 bytes in size.

    Cursors

  • ANI – Animated cursor
  • CUR – Cursor file
  • Smes – Hawk's Dock configuration file

    Generalized files

General data formats

These file formats are fairly well defined by long-term use or a general standard, but the content of each file is often highly specific to particular software or has been extended by further standards for specific uses.

Text-based

  • CSV – comma-separated values
  • HTML – Hypertext Markup Language
  • CSS – Cascading Style Sheets
  • INI – a configuration text file whose format is substantially similar between applications
  • JSON – JavaScript Object Notation is an openly used data format now used by many languages, not just JavaScript
  • TINI – used to configure and backup Crostini, the Linux container for Chromebook
  • TSV – tab-separated values
  • XML – an open data format
  • YAML – an open data format
  • ReStructuredText – an open text format for technical documents used mainly in the Python programming language
  • MD – Markdown an open lightweight markup language to create simple but rich text, often used to format README files
  • AsciiDoc – an open human-readable markup document format semantically equivalent to DocBook
  • YNI – a configuration file similar to YAML

    Generic file extensions

These are filename extensions and broad types reused frequently with differing formats or no specific format by different programs.

Binary files

  • BAK, BK – Bak file various backup formats: some just copies of data files, some in application-specific data backup formats, some formats for general file backup programs
  • BIN – binary data, often memory dumps of executable code or data to be re-used by the same software that originated it
  • DAT – data file, usually binary data proprietary to the program that created it, or an MPEG-1 stream of Video CD
  • DSK – file representations of various disk storage images
  • RAW – raw data
  • SZH – files that are associated with zero unique file types

    Text files

  • CNF, CONF, CFG – configuration file substantially software-specific
  • LOG – logfiles usually text, but sometimes binary
  • TEXT, TXT, ASC – human-readable plain text, usually no more specific

    Partial files

Differences and patches