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 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 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) 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 BSDL – Description language for testing through JTAG CDL – Transistor-level netlist format for IC design CPF – Power-domain specification in system-on-a-chip (SoC) implementation (see also UPF) 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 (see also Waveform viewer) 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 (EDA) – Library modeling (function, timing) 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 (2GB limit) 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 (circuit elements) 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.
Standard Test Data Format
Database 4DB – 4D database Structure file 4DC – 4D database Structure file (compiled in legacy mode) 4DD – 4D database Data file 4DIndy – 4D database Structure Index file 4DIndx – 4D database Data Index file 4DR – 4D database Data resource file (in old 4D versions) 4DZ – 4D database Structure file (compiled in 4D Project mode) ACCDB – Microsoft Database (Microsoft Office Access 2007 and later) ACCDE – Compiled Microsoft Database (Microsoft Office Access 2007 and later) ADT – Sybase Advantage Database Server (ADS) APR – Lotus Approach data entry & reports BOX – Lotus Notes Post Office mail routing database CHML – Krasbit Technologies Encrypted database file for 1 click integration between contact management software and the Chameleon Software DAF – Digital Anchor data file DAT – DOS Basic DAT – Intersystems Caché database file DB – Paradox DB – SQLite DBF – db/dBase II, III, IV and V, Clipper, Harbour/xHarbour, Fox/FoxPro, Oracle DTA – Sage Sterling database file EGT – EGT Universal Document, used to compress sql databases to smaller files, may contain original EGT database style. ESS – EGT SmartSense is a database of files and its compression style. Specific to EGT SmartSense EAP – Enterprise Architect Project FDB – Firebird database file FDB – Navision database file FP, FP3, FP5, FP7 – FileMaker Pro FRM – MySQL table definition G3K- A file extension used by CASIO calculators to store raw keylog sequences GDB – Borland InterBase Databases GTABLE – Google Drive Fusion Table KEXI – Kexi database file (SQLite-based) KEXIC – shortcut to a database connection for a Kexi databases on a server KEXIS – shortcut to a Kexi database LBX - A database archive format used by SimTex for 1990s MS-DOS strategy games like Masters of Orion. LDB – Temporary database file, only exists while a database is open LIRS – Layered Integer Storage. Stores integers with characters such as semicolons to create lists of data. MDA – Add-in file for Microsoft Access MDB – Microsoft Access database ADP – Microsoft Access project (used for accessing databases on a server) MDE – Compiled Microsoft Database (Access) MDF – Microsoft SQL Server Database MYD – MySQL MyISAM table data MYI – MySQL MyISAM table index NCF – Lotus Notes configuration file NSF – Lotus Notes database file NTF – Lotus Notes database design template NV2 – QW Page NewViews object oriented accounting database ODB – LibreOffice Base or OpenOffice Base database ORA – Oracle tablespace files sometimes get this extension (also used for configuration files) PCONTACT – WinIM Contact file PDB – Palm OS Database file PDI – Portable Database Image PDX – Corel Paradox database management PRC – Palm OS resource database file SQL – bundled SQL queries REC – GNU recutils database REL – Sage Retrieve 4GL data file RIN – Sage Retrieve 4GL index file SDB – StarOffice's StarBase SDF – SQL Compact Database file SQLITE – SQLite database file UDL – Universal Data Link waData – Wakanda (software) database Data file waIndx – Wakanda (software) database Index file waModel – Wakanda (software) database Model file waJournal – Wakanda (software) database Journal file WDB – Microsoft Works Database WMDB – Windows Media Database file; the CurrentDatabase_360.wmdb file can contain file name, file properties, music, video, photo and playlist information
Big Data (Distributed) Avro – Data format appropriate for ingestion of record based attributes; distinguishing characteristic is schema is stored on each row enabling schema evolution Parquet – Columnar data storage. It is typically used within the Hadoop ecosystem ORC – Similar to Parquet, but has better data compression and schema evolution handling
Desktop publishing AI – Adobe Illustrator AF – Affinity (software) AVE, ZAVE – Aquafadas CDR – CorelDRAW CHP, pub, STY, CAP, CIF, VGR, FRM – Ventura Publisher – Xerox (DOS / GEM) CPT – Corel Photo-Paint DJVU – Deja Vu DPE – Package of AVE documents made with Aquafadas digital publishing tools. DTP – Greenstreet Publisher, GST PressWorks FM – Adobe FrameMaker GDRAW – Google Drive Drawing ILDOC – Broadvision Quicksilver document INDD – Adobe InDesign IPYNB – Jupyter Source File MCF – FotoInsight Designer PDF – Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader PMD – Aldus/Adobe PageMaker PPP – Serif PagePlus PSD – Adobe Photoshop PUB – Microsoft Publisher QXD – QuarkXPress SLA, SCD – Scribus XCF – Used by the GIMP and other programs TWP – Talon Word Processor document
Document These files store formatted text and plain text.
0 – Plain Text Document, normally used for licensing 1ST – Plain Text Document, normally preceded by the words "README" (README.1ST) 600 – Plain Text Document, used in UNZIP history log 602 – Text602 (T602) document ABW – AbiWord document ACL – MS Word AutoCorrect List AFP – Advanced Function Presentation AMI – Lotus Ami Pro ANS – American National Standards Institute (ANSI) text ASC – ASCII text AWW – Ability Write BBeB – Broad Band EBook CCF – Color Chat 1.0 CSV – ASCII text as comma-separated values, used in spreadsheets and database management systems CWK – ClarisWorks-AppleWorks document DBK – DocBook XML sub-format DITA – Darwin Information Typing Architecture document DOC – Microsoft Word document DOCM – Microsoft Word macro-enabled document DOCX – document, Office Open XML, there are at least 4 quite different versions of Microsoft's DOCX: 1) ECMA-376, 2) ISO/IEC 29500 Transitional, 3) ISO/IEC 29500 Strict, 4) Microsoft-specific Compatibility Mode variants. DOT – Microsoft Word document template DOTX – Office Open XML text document template DWD – DavkaWriter Heb/Eng word processor file EGT – EGT Universal Document EPUB – An open standard for e-books EVTX – Windows XML EventLog files are system log files used by the Windows operating system EZW – Reagency Systems easyOFFER document FDX – Final Draft FTM – Fielded Text Meta FTX – Fielded Text (Declared) GDOC – Google Drive document GUIDE – AmigaGuide HTML, HTM – HyperText Markup Language HWP – Haansoft (Hancom) Hangul Word Processor document HWPML – Haansoft (Hancom) Hangul Word Processor Markup Language document KPUB – Kobo ebook format LOG – Text log file LWP – Lotus Word Pro MBP – metadata for Mobipocket documents MD – Markdown text document ME – Plain text document normally preceded by the word "READ" (READ.ME) MCW – Microsoft Word for Macintosh (versions 4.0–5.1) Mobi – Mobipocket documents NB – Mathematica Notebook NB – Nota Bene Document (Academic Writing Software) NBP – Mathematica Player Notebook NEIS – 학교생활기록부 작성 프로그램 (Student Record Writing Program) Document NT – N-Triples RDF container (.nt) NQ – N-Quads RDF container (.nq) ODM – OpenDocument master document ODOC – Synology Drive Office Document ODT – OpenDocument text document OSHEET – Synology Drive Office Spreadsheet OTT – OpenDocument text document template OMM – OmmWriter text document PAGES – Apple Pages document PAP – Papyrus word processor document PER – Canadian Forces Personnel Appraisal System (CFPAS) Personnel Evaluation Report (PER) PDR – Canadian Forces Personnel Appraisal System (CFPAS) Personnel Development Report (PDR) PDAX – Portable Document Archive (PDA) document index file PDF – Portable Document Format PROTONDOC – Proton Docs file shortcut QUOX – Question Object File Format for Quobject Designer or Quobject Explorer RTF – Rich Text document RPT – Crystal Reports SDW – StarWriter text document, used in earlier versions of StarOffice SE – Shuttle Document STW – OpenOffice.org XML (obsolete) text document template Sxw – OpenOffice.org XML (obsolete) text document TeX – TeX TMDX – SoftMaker TextMaker INFO – Texinfo Troff – Unix OS document processing system TXT – ASCII or Unicode plain text UOF – Uniform Office Format UOML – Unique Object Markup Language VIA – Revoware VIA Document Project File WPD – WordPerfect document WPS – Microsoft Works document WPT – Microsoft Works document template WRD – WordIt! document WRF – ThinkFree Write WRI – Microsoft Write document WRIX – NovaDesk Writer document XHTML, XHT – eXtensible HyperText Markup Language XML – eXtensible Markup Language XPS – Open XML Paper Specification
Financial records MYO – MYOB Limited (Windows) File MYOB – MYOB Limited (Mac) File TAX – TurboTax File YNAB – You Need a Budget File Tax2010 – Tax filling software
Financial data transfer formats IFX – Interactive Financial Exchange XML-based specification for financial transactions OFX – Open Financial Exchange, open standard supported by CheckFree and Microsoft and partly by Intuit; SGML and later XML based QFX – proprietary pay-only format used only by Intuit QIF – Quicken Interchange Format open standard formerly supported by Intuit
Font file ABF – Adobe Binary Screen Font AFM – Adobe Font Metrics BDF – Bitmap Distribution Format BMF – ByteMap Font Format BRFNT – Binary Revolution Font Format (NintendoWare4Revolution) FNT – Bitmapped Font – Graphics Environment Manager (GEM) FON – Bitmapped Font – Microsoft Windows MGF – MicroGrafx Font OTF – OpenType Font PCF – Portable Compiled Format PFA – Printer Font ASCII PFB – Printer Font Binary – Adobe PFM – Printer Font Metrics – Adobe FOND – Font Description resource – Mac OS SFD – FontForge spline font database Font SNF – Server Normal Format TDF – TheDraw Font TFM – TeX font metric TTF, TTC – TrueType Font UFO – Unified Font Object is a cross-platform, cross-application, human readable, future proof format for storing font data. WOFF – Web Open Font Format
Geographic information system
ASC – ASCII point of interest (POI) 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 (like a 3D mind-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 (export Topicscape, change files and folders as desired, re-import to 3D Topicscape) 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 (export Topicscape, change files and folders as desired, re-import them to 3D Topicscape) MGMF – MindGenius Mind Mapping Software file format MM – FreeMind mind map file (XML) MMP – Mind Manager mind map file MUP – File type used by MindMup 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 (export Topicscape, change files and folders as desired, re-import to 3D Topicscape)
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 Raster or bitmap files store images as a group of pixels.
ART – America Online proprietary format ASE, ASEPRITE – Aseprite Project format AVIF – AV1 Image File Format File Format BLP – Blizzard Entertainment proprietary texture format BMP – Microsoft Windows bitmap formatted image BTI – Nintendo proprietary texture format C4 – JEDMICS image files, a DOD system CALS – JEDMICS image files, a DOD system CD5 – Chasys Draw IES image CIT – Intergraph monochrome bitmap format CPT – Corel PHOTO-PAINT image CLIP – CLIP STUDIO PAINT format CPL – Microsoft Windows control panel file DDS – DirectX texture file DIB – Device-Independent Bitmap graphic DjVu – designed for scanned documents EGT – EGT Universal Document, used in EGT SmartSense to compress PNG files to yet a smaller file Exif – Exchangeable image file format is a specification for the image format used by digital cameras GIF – CompuServe's Graphics Interchange Format FLIF – Free Lossless Image Format GIFV – Graphics Interchange Format Video, a format used for short, looping videos that combines the advantages of GIFs and videos, with better playback quality and lower file sizes GRF – Zebra Technologies proprietary format ICNS – format for icons in macOS; contains bitmap images at multiple resolutions and bitdepths with alpha channel HEIF, HEIC – High Efficiency Image File Format ICO – a format used for icons in Microsoft Windows; contains small bitmap images at multiple resolutions and bitdepths with 1-bit transparency or alpha channel IFF, ILBM, LBM – IFF ILBM JNG – a single-frame MNG using JPEG compression and possibly an alpha channel JBIG – JBIG JPEG, JPG, JFIF – Joint Photographic Experts Group; a lossy image format widely used to display photographic images JP2 – JPEG2000 JAI – JPEG AI JAIC – JPEG AIC JAR – JPEG AR JD – JPEG DNA JFM – JPEG Fake Media JLS – JPEG LS JNFT – JPEG NFT JPP – JPEG Pleno JRF – JPEG RF JPS – JPEG Stereo JSY – JPEG Systems JXL – JPEG XL, an image format designed for professional photography and web images; supports wide color gamut, high dynamic range, animations, and a max resolution of 1,073,741,823 x 1,073,741,824 JXR – JPEG XR JXS – JPEG XS JXT – JPEG XT KRA – Krita image file LBM – Deluxe Paint image file MAX – ScanSoft PaperPort document MIFF – ImageMagick's native file format MNG – Multiple-image Network Graphics, the animated version of PNG MSP – a format used by old versions of Microsoft Paint; replaced by BMP in Microsoft Windows 3.0 NEF – Nikon camera raw format; photos have this on some Nikon cameras if the quality RAW is selected in camera settings NITF – A U.S. Government standard commonly used in Intelligence systems OTB – Over The Air bitmap, a specification designed by Nokia for black and white images for mobile phones PBM – portable bitmap compressed Degas picture files: PC1 – low resolution PC2 – medium resolution PC3 – high resolution PCF – Pixel Coordination Format PCX – a lossless format used by ZSoft's PC Paint, popular for a time on DOS systems. PDD – Adobe PhotoDeluxe image PDN – Paint.NET image file PGF – Progressive Graphics File PGM – Portable graymap uncompressed Degas picture files: PI1 – low resolution PI2 – medium resolution PI3 – high resolution PI2 – Portrait Innovations encrypted image format PICT, PCT – Apple Macintosh PICT image PNG – Portable Network Graphics (lossless, recommended for display and edition of graphic images) PNJ – a sub-format of the MNG file format, used for encapsulating JPEG files PNM – Portable anymap graphic bitmap image PNS – PNG Stereo PPM – Portable Pixmap (Pixel Map) image procreate – Procreate's drawing file Adobe Photoshop files: PSB – large document PSD – document PSP – Paint Shop Pro image PX – Pixel image editor image file PXM – Pixelmator image file PXR – Pixar Image Computer image file PXZ – a compressed layered image file used for Pixlr QFX – QuickLink Fax image QOI – Quite OK Image, a compressed lossless image format RLE – a run-length encoding image SCT – Scitex Continuous Tone image file SGI, RGB, INT, BW – Silicon Graphics Image TGA, TARGA, ICB, VDA, VST, PIX – Truevision TGA (Targa) image TIFF, TIF – Tag(ged) Image File Format; usually lossless, but many variants exist, including lossy ones. TIFF/EP, TIF, TIFF – Tag Image File Format / Electronic Photography, ISO 12234-2; tends to be used as a basis for other formats rather than in its own right VTF – Valve Texture Format WEBP – WebP, an image format designed for the web that can provide both lossless and lossy compression XBM – X Window System Bitmap XCF – GIMP image (from Gimp's origin at the eXperimental Computing Facility of the University of California) XPM – X Window System Pixmap ZIF – Zoomable/Zoomify Image Format (a web-friendly, TIFF-based, zoomable image format)
Photographs CR2 – Canon camera raw format; photos have this on some Canon cameras if the quality RAW is selected in camera settings DNG – "Digital Negative" a type of raw image file format used in digital photography. RAW – General term for minimally processed image data (acquired by a digital camera)
Vector graphics Vector graphics 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 (3D vector image formats) STL – Stereo Lithographic data format (see STL (file 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 (obsolete) 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 (Windows) MetaFile, an extension to WMF ART – Xara–Drawing (superseded by XAR) XAR – Xara–Drawing
3D graphics
3D graphics are 3D models that allow building models in real-time or non-real-time 3D rendering.
3DMF – QuickDraw 3D Metafile (.3dmf) 3DM – OpenNURBS Initiative 3D Model (used by Rhinoceros 3D) (.3dm) 3MF – 3D Manufacturing Format 3DS – legacy 3D Studio Model (.3ds) ABC – Alembic (computer graphics) AC – AC3D Model AMF – Additive Manufacturing File Format AN8 – Anim8or Model AOI – Art of Illusion Model ASM – PTC Creo assembly B3D – Blitz3D Model BBMODEL Blockbench Model BLEND – Blender BLOCK – Blender encrypted blend files BMD3 – Nintendo GameCube first-party J3D proprietary model format (.bmd) BDL4 – Nintendo GameCube and Wii first-party J3D proprietary model format (2002, 2006–2010) (.bdl) BRRES – Nintendo Wii proprietary model format BFRES – Nintendo Wii U and later Switch proprietary model format BCRES – Nintendo 3DS proprietary model format C4D – Cinema 4D (.c4d) Cal3D – Cal3D (.cal3d) CCP4 – X-ray crystallography voxels (electron density) CFL – Compressed File Library COB – Caligari Object CORE3D – Coreona 3D Coreona 3D Virtual File (.core3d) CTM – OpenCTM DAE – COLLADA DFF – RenderWare binary stream, commonly used by Grand Theft Auto III-era games as well as other RenderWare titles DN – Adobe Dimension CC file format DPM – DeepMesh DTS – Torque Game Engine (DTS (file format)) EGG – Panda3D Engine FACT – Electric Image (.fac) FBX – Autodesk FBX G – BRL-CAD geometry GLB – a binary form of glTF required to be loaded in Facebook 3D Posts GLM – Ghoul Mesh glTF – the JSON-based standard developed by Khronos Group HEC – Hector Game Engine – Flatspace model format IO – Bricklink Stud.io 2.0 Model File IOB – Imagine (3D modeling software) JAS – Cheetah 3D file JMESH – Universal mesh data exchange file based on JMesh specification (.jmsh for text/JSON based, .bmsh for binary/UBJSON based) LDR – LDraw Model File LWO – Lightwave Object LWS – Lightwave Scene LXF – LEGO Digital Designer Model file LXO – Luxology Modo (software) file M3D – Model3D, universal, engine-neutral format MA – Autodesk Maya ASCII File MAX – Autodesk 3D Studio Max file MB – Autodesk Maya Binary File MPD – LDraw Multi-Part Document Model File MD2 – MD2: Quake II model format MD3 – MD3: Quake III model format MD5 – MD5: Doom 3 model format MDX – Blizzard Entertainment's own model format MESH – New York University (.m) MESH – Meshwork Model (.mesh) MIOBJECT – Mine-Imator object file MIPARTICLE – Mine-Imator particle file MIMODEL – Mine-Imator model file MM3D – Misfit Model 3D MPO – Multi-Picture Object – This JPEG standard is used for 3D images, as with the Nintendo 3DS MRC – MRC: voxels in cryo-electron microscopy NIF – Gamebryo NetImmerse File NWC – Navisworks – cached version of the converted model geometry NWD – Navisworks – publish format NWF – Navisworks – working format for projects OBJ – Wavefront .obj file OFF – OFF Object file format OGEX – Open Game Engine Exchange (OpenGEX) format PLY – PLY: Polygon File Format / Stanford Triangle Format PRC – Adobe PRC (embedded in PDF files) PRT – PTC Creo part POV – POV-Ray document R3D – Realsoft 3D (Real-3D) RWX – RenderWare Object SIA – Nevercenter Silo Object SIB – Nevercenter Silo Object SKP – SketchUp file SLDASM – SolidWorks Assembly Document SLDPRT – SolidWorks Part Document SMD – Valve Studiomdl Data format TRES – Godot (game engine) resource file U3D – Universal 3D format USD – Universal Scene Description USDA – Universal Scene Description, human-readable text format USDC – Universal Scene Description, binary format USDZ – Universal Scene Description, a zip-compressed container VIM – Revizto visual information model format (.vimproj) VRML97 – VRML Virtual reality modeling language (.wrl) VUE – Vue scene file VWX – Vectorworks WINGS – Wings3D W3D – Westwood 3D Model X – DirectX 3D Model X3D – Extensible 3D Z3D – Zmodeler ZBMX – Mecabricks Blender Add-On
Links and shortcuts Alias – Alias (Mac OS) APPREF-MS – File shortcut format used by ClickOnce DESKTOP – Desktop entry on Linux Desktop environments, can link to a file or folder, or an online web address; should not to be confused with DIRECTORY (not a shortcut, but analogous to a Microsoft Windows desktop.ini file containing folder metadata) JNLP – Java Network Launching Protocol, an XML file used by Java Web Start for starting Java applets over the Internet LNK – Binary-format file shortcut in Microsoft Windows 95 and later NAL – ZENworks Instant shortcut (opens a .EXE not on the C:\ drive) PIF – Used to run MS-DOS programs under Windows (1.0–XP, and 32-bit Vista–10) SYM – Symbolic link URL – INI file pointing to a URL bookmarks/Internet shortcut in Microsoft Windows WEBLOC – Property list (.plist) file pointing to a URL bookmarks/Internet shortcut in macOS and on Apple Safari WEBSITE – Internet Explorer "Pinned Site" launcher – An Internet shortcut created from dragging the favicon from the address bar (in IE 9–11) to the Desktop or to a folder in Windows File Explorer, it works similarly to a Progressive Web App; must not be confused with Apple Safari's WEBARCHIVE (archival)
Mathematical G3K – an obscure, uncommon format used by the CASIO graphing calculators to store keylogs Harwell-Boeing – a file format designed to store sparse matrices MML – MathML – Mathematical Markup Language ODF – OpenDocument Math Formula SXM – OpenOffice.org XML (obsolete) Math Formula
Native executable Native executable formats include: executable file, object file, and shared library, but exclude executable files that are not executed via a processor-native mechanism.
8BF – files plugins for some photo editing programs including Adobe Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, GIMP and Helicon Filter. A – a static library on Unix-like systems A – Objective C native static library a.out – (no suffix for executable image, .o for object files, .so for shared object files) classic Unix object format, now often superseded by ELF APK – Android Package APP – A folder found on macOS systems containing program code and resources, appearing as one file. APP – file extension are executable application packages for running apps on HarmonyOS, OpenHarmony and Oniro devices. BAC – an executable image for the RSTS/E system, created using the BASIC-PLUS COMPILE command BPL – a Win32 PE file created with Delphi or C++Builder containing a package. Bundle – a Macintosh plugin created with Xcode or make which holds executable code, data files, and folders for that code. CLASS – Compiled Java bytecode COFF – (no suffix for executable image, .o for object files) Unix Common Object File Format, now often superseded by ELF COM – Simple executable format used by CP/M and DOS. DCU – Delphi compiled unit DLL – Dynamic library used in Windows and OS/2 to store data, resources and code. DOL – the format used by the GameCube and Wii, short for Dolphin, which was the codename of the GameCube. EAR – archives of Java enterprise applications ELF – (no suffix for executable image, .o for object files, .so for shared object files) used in many modern Unix and Unix-like systems, including Solaris, other System V Release 4 derivatives, Linux, and BSD) EXE – DOS executable (.exe: used in DOS) EXE – New Executable (used in multitasking ("European") MS-DOS 4.0, 16-bit Microsoft Windows, and OS/2) EXE – Portable Executable used in