What Is the File Extension Size?

File extensions are typically three letters long and let users know what type of program the file is used with.

File extensions let users know the type of file they are about to open. Common extensions are .doc, for text documents created with Microsoft Word, as well as .jpeg and .tiff for graphic files. The extensions are the last letters after the period of a file name, and are typically three characters long.

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Compression
- The reason so many file extensions exist are for compression reasons. Because image files can be large, compression is used to cut the size of the file down to use less disk space and minimize download time. Two types of compressions exist: "lossy" and "lossless." Lossy compression does not discard file information or compromise in accuracy. A lossy algorithm could simply store color information at a lower resolution. Lossless compression cuts recurring algorithms to reduce file size and compromises accuracy.
Common Extensions
- Thousands of file extensions exist. The most common image files extensions are .jpeg (Joint Photographic Experts Group), .png (Portable Public Network Graphic), .gif (Graphic Exchange Format) and .tiff (Tagged Image File Format). Common text file extensions are .doc (Microsoft Word Document), .docx (Microsoft Word Open XML Document), .rtf (Rich Text File) and .txt (Plain Text File). .Wma (Windows Media Audio File), .mp3 (MP3 Audio File) and .wav (WAVE Audio File) are common audio files, and .mov (Apple QuickTime Movie) and .wmv (Windows Media Video File) are frequently used video file extensions.
Showing File Extensions
- File extension can be shown or hidden, depending on your computer preferences. For security reasons, you should always be able to see extension names, so you know you are not downloading a malicious file.

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What Is the File Extension Size?

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Compression

Common Extensions

Showing File Extensions

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