Gives the file extension. What are the file formats

Hello friends, with you again website! Today I propose to talk about such a phenomenon as file extension, at the same time we will deal with the concept of " file type"and find out what types of files are most common in our time. Let's think together, why do we need different types of files, what do they mean, why not make all files, for example, Windows, the same format?

Undoubtedly, each of you has noticed that certain files related to computers and other electronic digital equipment are united by the same "ending", for example, well-known MS Word documents end in doc, various songs and music tracks most often - mp3 . It is this ending that is called the file extension.

What is the file extension and file type (file format)

First, let's define what is file type is a specific specification (one of many) that describes the actual structure of a file. According to this structure, the file is processed by programs and stored on the media. The user-visible part of a file type is the file extension.

File extension- a specific sequence of characters (letters and numbers) following the file name through the period character "." and used to identify the file type by software products and/or by the user. That is, with the help of the file extension of the program and the person understands (if they know) what type of data is contained in a particular file, what features it has, what is necessary for its execution.

In the Windows system (you can read about Windows itself), there are many similar applications that can open the same types of files, for example, AIMP player and KMP player. Both of them can play music files, but at the same time, neither of them will be able to open a file with the extension .exe or .zip, therefore, the players do not know the specification of archive or executable files. Thus, it can be understood that each application, each program is created in order to work only with certain types of files. From this we can conclude: there is no (and cannot exist) program that would know all types of files and be able to work with them. Not only is such a program impossible to create due to guaranteed compatibility problems of various modules, but it would also weigh 500 gigabytes in the end.

Hence the answer to the second question, voiced at the beginning of the article, the same format cannot be made for all files, because the program must understand what action or set of actions is expected of it, what it should do. In addition, the visible part, after the file name, I'm talking about the extension, helps users group files in a way that suits them, allows them to remember what and how to open in a particular case. For example, we know that we need to open the .doc (docx) file that we need to open MS Word (you can read about Word in this article), the .avi file - with a KMP player, and we will open the .adr file with the Opera browser (this is an opera bookmark file).

It is worth noting that file extensions often mean the specifics of the file, and not the file's belonging to any group. The point is that all types of files can be combined into groups, and each group has its own common specifics. For example, .mp3 file, .ac3 file, .waw file, .flac file - these are all music files, that is, they can all be opened by 1 program, although they have a different extension. And some files do not have variations, take, at least, a regular Word document, a .doc (docx) file and there is nothing else like it. But at the same time, such a file can be combined into a group of text files (txt, html, doc/docx).

In addition to the symbolic extension, all files in the windows system have an icon, a miniature image that characterizes a particular type of file. As a rule, these icons are assigned to files by the program itself, which works with this type of file.

This is how well-known files look in Windows 7 (read how to install Windows 7):

Microsoft Word Documents:

Microsoft Excel Documents:

Music files that can be opened with Windows Player:

Executable file.exe of Kaspersky Anti-Virus (why I wrote about it in this article):

With the help of such easily recognizable icons, we immediately understand what type of file is in front of us, moreover, we understand what it will do if we click on it.

What to do if you need to find out the file extension, but it is not visible through the explorer? The first thing that comes to mind is to run Total Commander, but someone works through the explorer and does not want any "commanders" (although they save time very decently), there is a way for such users. Press " Start", select " Control Panel - Folder Options", then select the top tab " View", scroll down, find the line " Hide extensions for known file types and uncheck the box.

(click to enlarge)

Now, through the explorer, we will be shown not only the icons of the files, but also their extension, and this, sometimes, is very important. By the way, you can change the extension yourself (for example, make png instead of jpg) by simply renaming the file and replacing the characters after the dot, but I don’t recommend doing this, in most cases the format will not change, but the characters that you see will simply change . In addition, you can "experiment" and forget what extension was originally, therefore, ruin the file irrevocably. Also, pay attention, if you just need to RENAME the file itself, then change the characters that are only BEFORE the point, for example, you need to change the name from "Singing Girl.mp3" to "Singing Boy.mp3" - in this case, change only the part up to ".mp3" otherwise the file will lose the extension and the computer will not know what the file is and how to open it.

What does the file extension mean, the relationship between the extension and the program

Especially for you, I have compiled a list of the extensions most commonly found on a computer, along with a list of programs that open this type of file.

So, let's transgress!

I hope, using the data received today, you can easily determine which file is in front of you, how to open it and why it is needed. A little practice, and the files will be recognized on the fly.

The hard drive of a personal computer is filled with various data. Therefore, you should figure out what file formats are, and for what purposes they are used. Knowledge of the main extensions greatly facilitates the search for information on a PC, as well as the process of cleaning it from unnecessary information. Depending on which file has an extension, it can be opened and edited either using standard Windows tools or third-party software products that you must first find and install. The file extension can be made visible or hidden.

What are file formats and file extensions. What is the difference?

Note that the file extension and format are close concepts, but not interchangeable. They should not be confused. Files of the same format may have different extensions.

By examining the file formats, the operating system recognizes their contents, and also selects the appropriate application to ensure interaction with the selected material. There are many formats: graphic, office, installation, archive, music, system, service and others. The extension in the file name is on the right side of the dot - it's just a few Latin letters. The operating system, thanks to this data, determines the program that will open the selected file.

A little practice. One format - different extensions

We will support the theory described above with a simple example. Often in practice we come across files that contain various documentation, stories, diagrams and lists. In this case, we are talking about a text format, it interacts with various office programs, so it can also be called office. At the same time, we ourselves can create documents using the Word editor or the standard Notepad application. The resulting file will have a different extension. Thus, we have proved in practice that the file extension in Windows and formats are different concepts. They should not be confused in the future.

How to change the file extension and set its visibility

If you know what extension the files have, you can change it if necessary. Sometimes it is not enough to make changes to the file name for such a conversion, but special programs are required - converters.

For example, you decide to post a video on the Internet, but it is in .avi format and is large. For compression, you can use a converter. As a result, we will get a much smaller file, the extension of which will change to, for example, .3gp.

If your operating system is configured to show the extension next to each file, you can hide it. To do this, in the system settings there is a special section "Folder Options".

Here we need to pay attention to the second tab. It contains various additional options. Among them is a feature that allows you to choose to hide or show file extensions in their names.

Briefly about the types of extensions

The list of the 10 most commonly used file extensions is as follows:

We will discuss some of them separately.

Open a file with a specific extension with the desired application

Files of various formats have extensions that serve as pointers to applications. But not everything is so simple, since the same extension can be opened by different programs. For example, a user can simultaneously install a number of video players on the computer. AVI is the most common video file extension, so any of these applications will open it. But if you just run the video, it will be opened by the program that is specified as "default". This setting can be configured manually. To do this, right-click on the file we need. In the menu that appears, use the "Properties" item. A window opens in which we are interested in the line "Application". It is here that you can find out the program that interacts with this type of file. If necessary, you can use the "Change" function, and choose a more suitable application. In addition to the options proposed by the system, the program can be specified independently, using the "Browse" button. If the file refuses to interact with the selected application, repeat the described procedure again and specify a more suitable program.

Changing applications does not affect the file extension in any way.

Graphic formats and file extensions

The following raster file formats exist: JPEG, PCX, PNG, BMP, CALS, TIFF.

JPEG

One of the most common graphic formats today, which usually stores photographs and other large bitmap images.

The JPEG format can also have these extensions:

• jfif.

Thanks to the JPEG algorithm, it is possible to compress images with loss of quality indicators, or with the preservation of the original data. Files of the specified format can be opened by one of the following programs:

• Windows Photos
• Roxio Creator
• XnView
• IrfanView
• Google picasa
• Paint.NET
• FastStone Image Viewer
• Adobe InDesign
• ACDSee

PCX

This is a bitmap format that presents graphical data to the user and was created by ZSoft Corporation. Before us is essentially an analogue of BMP. It is actively used by applications for scanning and faxing. Multipage fax documents are assigned the DCX extension. This format is device dependent. The compression algorithm used by this solution is characterized by high processing speed and a small amount of received data, but it shows little efficiency when processing graphic data with a lot of details, such as photographs. Lossless compression is not provided. You can open PCX with one of the following applications:

• ZSoft PC Paintbrush
• Adobe Photoshop
• Microsoft Windows Picture and Fax Viewer
• Adobe Photoshop Elements
• Adobe Premiere
• Adobe InDesign
• Adobe Illustrator
• Nuance OmniPage
• inkscape

PNG

It is a raster graphic format that most often requires more disk space than jpeg, but it has a number of strengths. For example, files of this format store data about the transparency of the background. This solution is open source. PNG is the most widely used on the Internet. It interacts with many graphic and video editors. Data in this format is especially in demand among video editors and designers. These specialists transfer source materials to PNG, after which they begin processing them. You can open these types of files with one of the following applications:

• Windows Photos
• inkscape
• Google picasa
• Xara Photo & Graphic Designer
• FastStone Image Viewer
• Adobe InDesign
• Adobe Photoshop
• Adobe Acrobat
• XnView
• Paint.NET

BMP

An uncompressed bitmap graphic format. The header of such a file contains data about the image - the number of colors, the depth of pixels, the height and width of the picture, and the file size. Usually after the title comes the palette. Next is information identifying the color of each pixel and its position. These types of files support several color depth options. Programs will help to open:

• Windows Photos
• Roxio Creator NXT Pro 5
• jpegview
• Microsoft Paint
• IrfanView
• Adobe Photoshop CC
• Adobe Illustrator CC
• Adobe Photoshop Elements 14
• Nuance OmniPage 18

CALS

This is a calendar file. It can be opened with one of the following applications:

• American Greetings CreateaCard
• Broderbund Calendar Creator Deluxe 12
• Broderbund PrintMaster v7 Platinum+
• Broderbund The Print Shop

TIFF

This format is designed to store raster graphics data. It is used to receive textual information from a scanner, after which it can be effectively recognized. This solution is actively used in the printing industry, as well as for sending data by e-mail. You can open a TIFF file with one of the following applications:

• Windows Photos
• artweaver
• CorelDRAW Graphics Suite
• PhotoOnWeb
• Adobe Photoshop

We should also discuss vector graphics file formats: DXF, DWG, HP-GL.

DXF

It is an open source vector format. Through this solution, information is exchanged between CAD programs. Its creator is Autodesk. Initially, it was used for drawings made in the AutoCAD application. DXF files can be opened by one of the following programs:

• solidworks
• inkscape
• Rhinoceros
• IMSI TurboCAD
• IrfanView

DWG

This is the graphics file most commonly used to create drawings in the AutoCAD application. In addition to the specified program, interaction with it can be provided through the following solutions:

• Free DWG Viewer
• AB Viewer
• DWG TrueView
• Corel Draw
• Compass

HP-GL

is a file format that contains information about Hewlett-Packard printer settings. This type of content can be opened with one of the following applications:

• ideaMK HPGL Viewer
• Corel PaintShop Pro 2018
• CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2017
• XnViewMP
• ArtSoft Mach

Polygraphy – pdf

A PDF file is a document that is created using the Adobe Acrobat application. The widespread use of this solution is due to the fact that almost any operating system and device can interact with it. Thanks to this, it is very easy to organize the exchange of documentation in the specified format. The PDF format can be opened with one of the following applications:

• Adobe Reader
• Sumatra PDF
• IrfanView
• Evince
• libreoffice

Internet

The following are the types of file formats that are usually assigned to web pages - these are php, htm and html. Corresponding extensions can also have scripts. You can interact with them with various applications, among them the following:

• Google Chrome
• Notepad++
• MPSoftware phpDesigner
• Eclipse PHP Development Tools
• Adobe Dreamweaver CC

Archive file formats

The following formats are used to compress information: jar, gz, gzip, tar, 7z, zip, rar.

JAR

This is a format that is a Java archive. In fact, this is a familiar ZIP package that has a part of a program written in Java. A JAR file can be executable if it contains a MANIFEST.MF component, is located in the META-INF folder, and contains information about the program's class. JAR can be opened with one of the following applications:

• PowerArchiver
• Java Runtime Environment
• ALZip
• JAR2EXE Converter
• ZipZag

gz (gzip)

This is an archive that can be made using the gzip tool. This application uses the DEFLATE algorithm in its work. This solution was most widely used in UNIX systems, where it became the standard in the field of information compression. The following applications will help ensure interoperability with the GZ format:

• 7-Zip
• WinACE
• ALZip
• winmount
• Zipeg

Extension tar is a common format for archival data found in Unix-based operating systems. This solution is used for the transfer of various software, as well as for the direct formation of an archive. Such a package saves a lot of data: timestamps, owner name, group of files, directory structure. You can open it with the following applications:

• picozip
• 7-Zip
• WinACE
• AlZip
• winmount

7z

This is a file archive created using the 7-Zip tool. The application has a high level of information compression and is distributed freely. It is built on an open source basis. This tool uses multi-threading - up to eight simultaneous threads. The 7z format can be opened with the following applications:

• 7-Zip
• ZipZag
• ZipGenius
• PeaZip
• ALZip

ZIP

A file format that provides archiving and data compression. This solution was developed by Phil Katz for the PKZIP application. Today, a large number of other programs have been created to interact with this format, and among them are the following:

• winzip
• TurboSoft AnyZip
• 7-Zip
• WinAce
• WinRAR

RAR

This is a file archive that can contain both files and folders compressed using RAR technology. The format has a higher level of information compression. This result is provided by a special patented algorithm. The WinRAR program was created by the programmer Evgeny Roshal, and you can also use the following applications to interact with the format:

• 7-Zip
• Alpha ZIP
• ZipZag
• The Unarchiver
• PeaZip

Audio file formats

The following music file formats exist: aac, m4a, wma, ac3, ogg, ape, flac, mp3.

AAC

This is an audio file format that has some advantages over MP3. It provides less quality loss for the same converted file size. This solution was created in 1997 as an alternative to MP3, it belongs to the MPEG-2 family. AAC is an unprotected file without a container. You can open it with the following applications:

• Adobe Audition
• Xilisoft Video Converter
• Apple QuickTime Player
• FMJ-Software Awave Studio
• winamp

m4a format

Refers to unprotected audio files encoded with AAC. You can open m4a with one of the following applications:

• Nullsoft Winamp
• Apple QuickTime Player
• Apple iTunes
• FMJ-Software Awave Studio
• Windows Media Player

WMA format

Have audio files that were created using the Windows Media Audio codec. This solution is the property of Microsoft, it has a number of similarities with MP3. WMA is often used to play music files on the Internet. You can open these types of files with one of the following applications:

• Windows Media Player
• Nullsoft Winamp
• Audacity
• Foobar2000

AC3 format

Have audio files conforming to the Dolby Digital standard. In this case, the sound is encoded as six independent channels, which, when played on the corresponding system, create volume and presence. This solution has found wide application in the film industry. Applications such as:

• winamp
• Adobe Premiere
• KMPlayer
• Media Player Classic

Ogg format

It is a container for storing subtitles, audio, and video in various formats. Ogg is an open standard. It is distributed freely and has no licensing or patent restrictions. Ogg can contain streams converted by different codecs. The following applications will help you open Ogg:

• Nullsoft Winamp
• sound forge
• VUPlayer
• BSplayer

APE format

They have audio files compressed with the Monkey's Audio codec, which at the same time do not have quality loss. This solution allows you to correct errors in the entry and add tags. Monkey's Codec is a free add-on. APE audio, when compared to MP3, requires more space, but the quality is higher. The following applications will help you open:

• NCH ​​WavePad
• VUPlayer
• KMPlayer

FLAC format

They have audio files converted without quality loss, when they are compressed, a special open source codec is used. This solution is inferior to MP3 in terms of compression, but its sound quality is higher. The format will be appreciated by music lovers and lovers of collecting their own music collections. You can interact with FLAC through the following applications:

• jetAudio
• Nullsoft Winamp
• GoldWave
• VUPlayer

The MP3 format uses compressed audio files. The creator of this solution was the Moving Picture Experts group. The format uses Layer 3 audio compression. MP3s are most commonly used to store music and audio books. The sound quality in this format is close to that of a CD, and the volume of the converted file is ten times smaller than in the case of AIFF and WAV. The following applications will help you open:

• Nullsoft Winamp
• sound forge
• Apple iTunes
• VUPlayer

Other popular and frequent file formats

The EXE format have executable files in Windows operating systems and DOS applications. Self-extracting archives can also have this extension. Any EXE file, as a rule, can be launched by double-clicking the mouse if . On other platforms, emulators will help ensure interoperability with the specified format. You can open EXE through applications:

• resource hacker
• eXeScope
• Resource Tuner
• VMware Fusion
• VMware Workstation

MSI format have installation packages used by the Windows operating system. This solution is used to update the platform itself, or is used by other developers to install various software. The MSI includes an OLE compound document containing a database of linked tables that list all sorts of data about an application. Help to open:

• Universal Extractor
• The Unarchiver
• 7-Zip
• Microsoft Windows Installer

TXT format have files that contain . The information in such documents is often organized in the form of lines. Also in TXT it can have both unformatted and marked-up form. If necessary, formatting can be set for any character: size, style, font. The following applications will help you open TXT:

• "Notebook"
• coolreader
• PSPad editor
• STDU Viewer
• Notepad++

DLL file format has a dynamic library, it allows applications to access system functions. A DLL element can be a component of the Windows operating system or third-party programs that run in this shell. By means of such a solution, work with a hard disk or other devices can be ensured. To open the DLL will help:

• Microsoft Visual Studio
• Windows Resource Hacker
• Visual FoxPro

INI format have configuration files that use various Windows applications in their work. In such documents, as a rule, certain settings are stored. The structure of the material is divided into sections. Section names are marked in square brackets. Each of them can include several values ​​of the form: "Parameter=Value". You can open INI through the following applications:

• FileAlyzer
• PSPad editor
• " Notebook"
• Bred 3
• Notepad++

The file format, also called the file type, is information about the file for the computer. Thanks to this information, the computer approximately knows what is inside the file and "understands" in which program to open it.

In order for the computer to understand what type a particular file belongs to and in which program to open it, an extension is indicated after the name.

An extension is a number of letters or numbers after the dot in a name.

The picture shows an mp3 file. The computer “knows” about it that this is a music file, and you need to open it in the player program. The picture of the file matches the picture of the program that opens it. An experienced computer user already understands by this icon alone which program will open this file and what type it belongs to.

There are, for example, text files. This means that the content of such files is text, and they are opened in a text program. There are music and video files, that is, their contents are music and video, and they open in the players. Graphic files are also often found - photographs and pictures. There are many other types as well. Each of them has its own icon, more precisely, the icon of the program installed on the computer in which it opens.

Let me remind you that the computer determines the type of file by extension. So many computers are configured in such a way that the file extension is not shown. It's very convenient!

To make it so for you, open any folder and click on the inscription "Service" (at the top of the window). Select "Folder Options..." or "Folder Options..." from the list.

If there is no “Service” item at the top of the window, then click on the “Start” button and open the “Control Panel”. Among the icons, find and open "Folder Options" (Appearance and Personalization - Folder Options).

A window will open. Click on the "View" tab (top).

Check the box "Hide extensions for known file types" and click the "OK" button at the bottom of the window.

By the way, in the same way you can configure your computer so that it does not hide, but shows file extensions instead.

Table of the most common extensions:

Important! If your computer is set up so that extensions are shown, then when you change the name of a file, leave the extension as it is. That is, change the file name to a dot. If you change the extension, the file may then stop opening. Remember this!

Working at a computer, one way or another, we are faced with the need to receive or send a file to our friends or work colleagues. Conventionally, all file formats that the user has to deal with can be grouped into several groups. Usually these are video and music files, photos, archives, software installation packages, text documents and spreadsheets.

What is a file?

From the programmer's point of view, a file is a certain area in the computer's long-term memory, designed to store, read and write data. It can have a specific name and contain information of a specific type. But from the point of view of a simple user, a file is, first of all, something concrete. Document, movie, song, or program installation package.

The programmer is simply obliged to think differently, because his task is to make sure that the end users that we are, do not think about how to work with this very file. We just want to open it and get the result.

In some way, they provide us with such an opportunity. The operating system recognizes which file the user wants to use and opens it in a suitable program for the task. Identification usually occurs by extension or by so-called magic numbers, special marks that allow the file system to determine the type of information stored in the file.

File extension

Since the days of MS DOS, we have inherited extensions that allow you to visually determine file formats. The extension is usually three letters long and is located after the delimiting dot of the file name. This scheme is called 8.3, in memory of those times when only eight characters were allocated for the file name.

Modern file systems allow file names to be 255 characters long, but the extension is still three in most cases. These are the same *.doc, *.jpg, *.avi that are familiar to everyone and by which you can determine which file you are dealing with.

Grouping files by type

As we have said, the most popular custom file formats can be grouped by their usage and therefore by extension.

Most of these types of files are opened by standard means of operating systems, and working with them does not require any special knowledge and skills from the user. With documents, the situation is somewhat different. To work with them, special software packages are already required. Therefore, we will take a closer look at just the formats of text files and the basics of interacting with them.

Word processors

The main purpose of the text file is clear from its name. They are created using word processors that are part of office software packages. The most famous such processor is Word. It has become widespread thanks to the main brainchild of Microsoft - the Windows operating system.

Word has ample opportunities for working with texts, allows you to create documents of high complexity. This convenient and productive word processor is part of Microsoft Office and is distributed for Windows and MacOS platforms. Moreover, it is far from being distributed free of charge, Microsoft has never been altruistic in this regard.

Are there alternative programs with similar capabilities? Yes there is. The most famous solution is called OpenOffice. This is a free software product that includes the Writer word processor. Yes, it does not look as beautiful as Word, but it is practically not inferior to it in terms of functionality for working with text. It is available on any desktop platform, versions are available for Windows, Linux and MacOS.

It must be said that OpenOffice is not the only free package. Several other similar programs have been created on its basis. The most famous is the LibreOffice program, which has a more free development policy and was created by a group of developers who separated from the aspen project. It is distributed free of charge and has versions for all popular operating systems.

Popular text formats

Let's see what file formats the most famous word processors use. The most widely used format in Russia and in the world is *.doc. It has long become the format in which all text documents are prepared by default. Its further development is the *.docx format. This format was introduced with Microsoft Office 2007. Unlike its predecessor, the completely closed binary *.doc format, *.docx is based on the open XML markup format.

OpenOffice, as a free software product, uses an open file format with the *.odt extension. OpenDocument Format received international standardization in 2006 and is originally based on XML. It was created in contrast to the completely closed format from Microsoft. In a number of European countries, it is used quite widely, and its share in the document flow reaches 22%.

The latest versions of office software packages provide almost complete mutual compatibility of documents prepared in them. You can create a document in Word and save it in a *.odt format file and vice versa, while working in a free office suite, create *.doc documents.

Other text formats

In addition to the popular formats we have considered, which allow you to work with text in a wide range of possibilities, you can also find others. These text file formats either do not support formatting at all or support it at an initial level. These formats include *.txt and *.rtf.

A feature of these formats is full compatibility with different operating systems and the ability to work with them without an office suite. They can be opened and edited by standard tools, programs that were originally part of the OS. For example, for Windows it will be Notepad and WordPad, MacOS will open them in the Preview program.

Finally

During the development of computer technology, a large number of different programs have been created, each of which uses its own file format and, accordingly, has some kind of extension. In this material, we have considered only a small part of them, those that we encounter in everyday life. For a more detailed study of this issue, we can recommend the Russian-language resource Fileext.ru, where you can find a detailed description of any file by its extension.

Every file on a computer stores data of a certain type. For example, it can be textual information, program codes, an image, sound, or something else. Intuitively, you already understand what a file extension is. Therefore, today we will fill in the gaps in knowledge and try to delve deeper into the topic.

Definition

The extension is the second part of the filename after the dot. As a rule, it consists of 2-4 characters. This designation simplifies the operation of the operating system, telling it exactly what information is contained in the document and what program should be used to open the file.

When you install any new program, the Windows registry is updated with information about what formats it can work with. It is thanks to this that pictures open in special galleries, and music opens with the help of a multimedia player. If you wish, you can change the program that will be used to open files of a certain type.

Popular extensions

It is useful to know not only what a file extension is, but also what types of data are stored in different documents. Here is a list of the most common on Windows:

• Text: txt, .doc (.docx), .rtf.
• Web pages: .htm and .html.
• Archives: .zip, .rar.
• Images: .png, .bmp, .gif, .tiff.
• Audio: .mp3, .wav, .wma, .cda.
• Video: .avi, .wmv, .mpg (.mpeg), .MPEG-4, .wmv, .flv, .vob, .mdv, .swf.
• Presentations: .ppt (.pptx).
• Tables: .xls (.xslx).
• Fonts: .ttf, .otf.
• E-books: .pdf, .epub, .fb2, .djvu.
• Databases: .mdb, .accdb.
• Executable (launch or install programs): .exe, .bat.

Tip: when working with documents of unknown formats, the Russian-language service Open-File.ru is very helpful. Just type in the name in the directory search, and you will see the basic information: what data the document contains (image, text, etc.), what is the appropriate file extension program in which to open it.

Customizing the display of extensions

By default, the operating system automatically displays the document format next to its name. However, at any time you can make sure that file extensions in Windows are not displayed or, conversely, enable them. What do I need to do?

1. Go to "Control Panel".
2. Find the item it is called "Folder Options", and in Windows 8 and 10 - "Explorer Options".
3. In the window that appears, select the "View" tab.
4. Find the "Hide extensions for known file types" item in the "Advanced options" list and check the box next to it.
5. Click the "Apply" button and close the window.

Please note: if the file extension is disabled in Windows 7 or another version of the OS, you need to be more careful when renaming any documents. If you accidentally delete or change this postscript, the file will be impossible to open.

How to change the extension

Now that you know the file extension, let's talk about how it can be converted. This is necessary if, for example, you want to open a file intended for one program in another application.

Strictly speaking, there are two ways to do this:

1. Rename the document - just enter the one you need instead of the "native" extension (for example, .html instead of .txt).
2. Use special converter programs. Some are installed on a PC, others are available online. They are resorted to if you need to completely change the encoding of the document.

If you want information to be displayed as correctly as possible in another program, it is better to use full-fledged converters.

Of the popular services of this type, Convertio can be noted. This online converter supports most common file extensions and also has a number of additional tools such as PDF compression and merging, a URL converter to extract music and videos from websites, and scanned text recognition.

How to change the program to open

And finally, consider the situation where you downloaded a new application and want to use it to work with certain documents. For example, change the standard Windows photo viewer to Microsoft Office Picture Manager. How to do it?

1. Select the desired file and open the context menu (right mouse button).
2. Find "Open with" > "Choose another app".
3. Select the desired program in the list that appears and check the box next to "Always use this application ...".
4. Click OK.

This means that the system will now open such a file extension using the program that you have chosen. In Windows 8 and 10, if a suitable application is not found on the PC, you also have the option to find it in the Store.