List of file formats

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by editing the page to add missing items, with references to reliable sources.

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

Application packages

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)
  • SVF - Autodesk proprietary model format
  • SVF2 - Updated SVF format type
  • 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.

Database

Big Data (Distributed)

Desktop publishing

Document

These files store formatted text and plain text.

Financial records

Financial data transfer formats

Font file

Geographic information system

Graphical information organizers

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.

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.

Mathematical

Physics

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.

Object extensions:

Page description language

Personal information manager

Presentation

Project management software

Reference management software

Formats of files used for bibliographic information (citation) management.

Scientific data (data exchange)

Multi-domain

Meteorology

  • GRIB – Grid in Binary, WMO format for weather model data
  • BUFR – WMO format for weather observation data
  • PP – UK Met Office format for weather model data
  • NASA-Ames – Simple text format for observation data. First used in aircraft studies of the atmosphere.

Chemistry

Mathematics

Biology

Molecular biology and bioinformatics:

Biomedical imaging

Biomedical signals (time series)

  • ACQ – AcqKnowledge format for Windows/PC from Biopac Systems Inc., Goleta, CA, USA
  • ADICHT – LabChart format from ADInstruments Pty Ltd, Bella Vista NSW, Australia
  • BCI2000 – The BCI2000 project, Albany, NY, USA
  • BDF – BioSemi data format from BioSemi B.V. Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • BKR – The EEG data format developed at the University of Technology Graz, Austria
  • CFWB – Chart Data Format from ADInstruments Pty Ltd, Bella Vista NSW, Australia
  • DICOM – Waveform An extension of Dicom for storing waveform data
  • ecgML – A markup language for electrocardiogram data acquisition and analysis
  • EDF, EDF+ – European Data Format
  • FEF – File Exchange Format for Vital signs, CEN TS 14271
  • GDF – The General Data Format for biomedical signals
  • HL7aECG – Health Level 7 v3 annotated ECG
  • MFER – Medical waveform Format Encoding Rules
  • OpenXDF – Open Exchange Data Format from Neurotronics, Inc., Gainesville, FL, USA
  • SCP-ECG – Standard Communication Protocol for Computer assisted electrocardiography EN1064:2007
  • SIGIF – A digital SIGnal Interchange Format with application in neurophysiology
  • WFDB – Format of Physiobank
  • XDF – eXtensible Data Format

Other biomedical formats

  • HL7 – Health Level 7, a framework for exchange, integration, sharing, and retrieval of health information electronically
  • xDT – a family of data exchange formats for medical records

Biometric formats

  • CBF – Common Biometric Format, based on CBEFF 2.0 (Common Biometric ExFramework).
  • EBF – Extended Biometric Format, based on CBF but with S/MIME encryption support and semantic extensions
  • CBFX – XML Common Biometric Format, based upon XCBF 1.1 (OASIS XML Common Biometric Format)
  • EBFX – XML Extended Biometric Format, based on CBFX but with W3C XML Encryption support and semantic extensions

Source code

This section covers source code files for all programming languages regardless of whether used with a compiler or an interpreter or used for scripting.

Security

Authentication and general encryption formats are listed here.

Certificates and keys

X.509

Encrypted files

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
  • HC – Virtual encrypted disk container, created by VeraCrypt
  • KODE – Encrypted file, created with KodeFile
  • Lockbit – Used in Ransomwares, trojans, and other viruses
  • nSignE – An encrypted private key, created by nSign

Password files

Password files (sometimes called keychain 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)

Sound and music

Lossless audio

Uncompressed

  • 8SVX – Commodore-Amiga 8-bit sound (usually in an IFF container)
  • 16SVX – Commodore-Amiga 16-bit sound (usually in an IFF container)
  • AIFF, AIF, AIFC – Audio Interchange File Format
  • AU – Simple audio file format introduced by Sun Microsystems
  • AUP3 – Audacity's file for when you save a song
  • BWF – Broadcast Wave Format, an extension of WAVE
  • CDDA – Compact Disc Digital Audio
  • DSF, DFF – Direct Stream Digital audio file, also used in Super Audio CD
  • RAW – Raw samples without any header or sync
  • WAV – Microsoft Wave
  • CWAV – file read by the Nintendo 3DS for Home-screen sound effects
  • QAU, QUEYEAUDIO – Queye Audio file, adapted from WAVE with specific metadata, generally for artists to submit music to their labels.
  • QAU0 – Proprietary version of the Queye Audio file, without metadata.

Compressed

Lossy audio

  • MOD – Soundtracker and Protracker sample and melody modules
  • MT2 – MadTracker 2 module
  • S3M – Scream Tracker 3 module
  • XM – Fast Tracker module
  • IT – Impulse Tracker module
  • SNG – Goat Tracker module
  • NSF – NES Sound Format
  • GBS – Game Boy Sound System
  • MID, MIDI – Standard MIDI file; most often just notes and controls but occasionally also sample dumps (.mid, .rmi)
  • FTM – FamiTracker Project file
  • BTM – BambooTracker Project file
  • FUR – Furnace Tracker Project file

Sheet music files

Other file formats pertaining to audio

Playlist formats

Audio editing and music production

Recorded television formats

Spreadsheet

Tabulated data

Video

Subtitles

  • ASS, SSA – ASS (also SSA): a subtitles file created by Aegisub, a video typesetting application (also a Halo game engine file)
  • SMI – SMI SAMI Caption file (HTML like subtitle for movie files)
  • SRT – SubRip Subtitle – file format for closed captioning or subtitles

Video editing, production

Video game data

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 (optimized for spectating)
  • 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! (lazer)
  • 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 (Java) type identifiers
  • SNBT – format used by Java Edition as a stringified version of NBT, it gets converted into nbt when needed.
  • NBS – used by Note Block Studio, a tool that can be used to make songs with note blocks in-game

Eaglercraft

  • 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.
  • EZIP- used by Eagtek in WEB eaglers WASM GC(maybe)

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 (contains music, maps, and textures)
  • DEH – DeHackEd files to mutate the game executable (not officially part of the Doom engine)
  • DSG – Saved game
  • LMP – A "lump", an entry in a WAD file
  • LMP – Saved demo recording
  • MUS – Music file (usually contained within a WAD file)

Quake engine

Formats used by games based on the Quake engine.

  • BSP – BSP (For binary space partitioning) – 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 (which can be converted to regular formats)

Duke Nukem 3D Engine

Formats used by games based on this engine.

  • DMO – Save game
  • GRP – Data storage
  • MAP – Map (usually constructed with BUILD.EXE)

Diablo Engine

Formats used by Diablo by Blizzard Entertainment.

  • SV – Save Game
  • ITM – Item File

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 (XML, binary)
  • RBXM – Roblox Studio model file (XML, binary)
  • RBXLX – Roblox Studio place file (exclusively XML)
  • RBXMX – Roblox Studio model file (exclusively XML)

Godot engine

  • TRES – Human readable resource file
  • GD – Godot Engine's built-in scripting language (GDScript) source
  • TSCN – Human readable scene file
  • GDC - Compiled GDScript files used in exported PCK files
  • RES - Compiled resource files used in exported PCK files
  • SCN - Compiled scene files used in exported PCK files
  • IMPORT - Human readable file alongside imported textures with metadata for the engine
  • GODOT - Human readable metadata file for the engine

Source engine

Formats used in Valve games: Half-Life 2, Counter-Strike: Source, Day of Defeat: Source, Half-Life 2: Episode One, Team Fortress 2, Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Portal, Left 4 Dead, Left 4 Dead 2, Alien Swarm, Portal 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Titanfall, Insurgency, Titanfall 2, Day of Infamy.

  • BSP – Source Engine compiled map file
  • DEM – Source Engine demo format
  • HL2 – Half-Life 2 save format
  • MDL – Source Engine model format
  • PCF – Source Engine particle effect file
  • SAV – Source Engine save format
  • SMD – Source Engine uncompiled model format
  • VMF – Valve Hammer Map editor raw map file
  • VMT – Source Engine material format.
  • VMX – Valve Hammer Map editor backup map file
  • VPK – Source Engine pack format
  • VTF – Source Engine texture format

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 (used in Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance and Nier: Automata)
  • EF2 – Effect data for the EF2 effects system (used in Bayonetta 1)
  • MOT – Motion capture animation data

Other formats

  • ADOFAI – Level data for A Dance of Fire and Ice
  • B – used for Grand Theft Auto saved game files
  • BBKEYMAP – Blockbench keybindings
  • BBSETTINGS – Blockbench settings
  • BBTHEME – Blockbench theme
  • BMS - Rhythm game file format
  • BME - Expansion of BMS file format
  • BML - Expansion of BMS file format
  • CAR – Car and engine data for Automation
  • CGB – Pokémon Black and White/Black 2 and White 2 C-Gear skins
  • DBPF – The Sims 2 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
  • ENGINE – Engine data for Automation
  • ESM, ESP – Master and Plugin data archives for the Creation Engine
  • GCF – format used by the Steam content management system for file archives
  • GDR, GDR2 – Geometry Dash replays
  • GDLVL – Geometry Dash level data
  • GDKB – Geometry Dash keybind data
  • GMD – Geometry Dash level data (Geode mod GDShare)
  • 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 Mindustry's map and save data.
  • MSCH – A file format used to store Mindustry's 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
  • RCT – Used for templates and save files in RollerCoaster Tycoon games
  • REP – used by Blizzard Entertainment for scenario replays in StarCraft
  • RDLEVEL, RDZIP – Used by Rhythm Doctor to store level data
  • Simcity, DBPF, DAT, SC4Lot, SC4Model – All game plugins use this format, commonly with different file extensions (Sim City 4)
  • SCS – SCS Software data file (Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator)
  • SMZIP – ZIP-based package for StepMania songs, themes and announcer packs.
  • SOLITAIRETHEME8 – 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
  • 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 – Wii Backup File System
  • 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
  • ARC – Nintendo RARC 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 (ROM) 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.

Virtual machines

Microsoft Virtual PC, 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, 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

Dynamically generated

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 (Hyper-Text Markup Language) 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.
  • ZIM – ZIM: an open file format that stores wiki content for offline usage
  • HTACCESS – htaccess: Apache access configuration on a per-directory basis (used without a filename)
  • CONF, CONFIG – Configuration file: Configuration files containing webserver configuration
  • JSON – JSON: Configuration or arbitrary static data
  • YAML - Yet Another Markup Language

Other

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
  • PLIST – Short for Property List, stores data in XML-like format on Apple Inc devices

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 (unprocessed) data
  • IFDS – Incredibly Flexible Data Storage file format. File extension and the magic number does not have to be IFDS.

Text files

  • CNF, CONF, CFG – configuration file substantially software-specific
  • INI – human-readable configuration file, widely used in MS-DOS and Windows, as well other OSes and software
  • LOG – logfiles usually text, but sometimes binary
  • TEXT, TXT, ASC – human-readable plain text, usually no more specific

Partial files

Differences and patches

  • DIFF – text file differences created by the program diff and applied as updates by patch

Incomplete transfers

  • !UT – partially complete uTorrent download
  • 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.
  • OPDOWNLOAD – "Opera Partially Downloaded File" is the same as CRDOWNLOAD, but for Opera / Opera GX. As Opera is Chromium-based, the files are likely identical internally.
  • PART – partly complete Mozilla Firefox or Transmission download
  • PARTIAL – partly complete Internet Explorer or Microsoft Edge Legacy download
  • DUCKLOAD – partly complete DuckDuckGo Private Browser download

Temporary files

  • TEMP, TMP – temporary file sometimes in a specific format, but often raw data in the middle of processing.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "FAT file name and extension representation" (PDF).
  2. ↑ "Filename extension definition". The Linux Information Project. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  3. ↑ "7z Format". 7-zip.
  4. ↑ "What Is a Cabinet (.cab) File?". microsoft.com. Microsoft.
  5. 1 2 "About Android App Bundles".
  6. ↑ "Working with the Alpine Package Keeper (apk)".
  7. ↑ "deb - Debian binary package format".
  8. ↑ "Installation package".
  9. ↑ "About VHD (Windows)".
  10. 1 2 "3MF Consortium".
  11. ↑ "www.datacad.com – DataCAD Revision History". datacad.com. Archived from the original on 14 September 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  12. ↑ "How to export a design in Fusion 360". Knowledge.autodesk.com. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  13. ↑ "Windows XML Event Log (EVTX) format". github.com.
  14. ↑ "Reagency Systems – easyOFFER the OREA and TREB real estate forms software solution details". reagency.ca. Archived from the original on 19 June 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  15. ↑ "GML Format". gephi.org.
  16. ↑ "Create, manage, and import swatches in InDesign". Helpx.adobe.com. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  17. ↑ "Swatch Book – Inkscape Wiki". Wiki.inkscape.org. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  18. ↑ "Palette Docker – Krita Manual version 4.1". Docs.krita.org. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  19. ↑ "v1.2 Palette · mypaint/mypaint Wiki". GitHub.com. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  20. ↑ "What is graphics interchange format video (GIFV)?". Lenovo.com.
  21. ↑ "How do I open a .pnj file?". FileSuffix.com.
  22. ↑ "Index of /pdf/perq/accent_S5/Accent_UsersManual_1984". Bitsavers.org. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  23. 1 2 RSTS-11 System Users Guide (PDF) (DEC-11-ORSUA-D-D (RSTS/E V06A-02) ed.). Digital Equipment Corporation. 1975. pp. 2–16–2–17. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 March 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  24. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 December 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  25. ↑ Srivastava, Deepansh; Vosegaard, Thomas; Massiot, Dominique; Grandinetti, Philip (January 2020). "Core Scientific Dataset Model: A lightweight and portable model and file format for multi- dimensional scientific data". PLOS ONE. 15 (1) e0225953. Bibcode:2020PLoSO..1525953S. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0225953. PMC 6940021. PMID 31895936.
  26. ↑ "Library Packaging". c3-lang.org. C3.
  27. ↑ "Definition of NCF file". PCMAG. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  28. ↑ Bastiaansen, Rob; Vugt, Sander van (9 May 2006). Novell Cluster Services for Linux and NetWare. Pearson Education. p. 27. ISBN 978-0-672-33283-8. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  29. 1 2 "Filename extensions".
  30. 1 2 3 "Setting Up and Using PuTTY". Wipo.int.
  31. 1 2 3 "How to Convert Your Putty .PPK Private Key to a Normal SSH Key You Can Use on an Apple Mac | These things are far too hard". leadingedgescripts.co.uk. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  32. 1 2 3 Leo Notenboom. "How do I create and use Public Keys with SSH?"
  33. 1 2 Jayasooriya, Tarith (16 September 2020). "nSign". nsign. Retrieved 12 October 2020.[dead link]
  34. ↑ "SAC Data File Format". Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology.
  35. ↑ "Standard for the Exchange of Earthquake Data" (PDF). Data Formats. IRIS (Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology). Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  36. ↑ "What is WIN system?" (in Japanese). Earthquake Observation Center, Earthquake Research Institute, U. Tokyo, Japan. Archived from the original on 2 April 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  37. ↑ "TAK". hydrogenaud.io.
  38. ↑ Tim Fisher. "BRSTM File (What It Is & How To Open One)". About.com Tech. Archived from the original on 5 May 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  39. ↑ "MCA File Extension". FileInfo.com. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  40. ↑ love2d.org
  41. ↑ "FileInfo information about PLAGUEINC file format".
  42. ↑ Yvis, Hervé (2025). "Educational Game Format (EGF): A File Format Designed for Educational Games". Zenodo. doi:10.5281/zenodo.17635411.
  43. ↑ "EGF: A New Standard for Open Educational Games". Telopa. 27 November 2025.
  44. ↑ "An Open File Format for Educational Games". ASHA MODERN SCHOOL. 26 November 2025.
  45. ↑ ".GCM file extension! [Archive] – EmuTalk.net". emutalk.net. 21 June 2004.
  46. ↑ Medley, Sam (20 September 2018). "You can now play your own NES ROMs on Nintendo Switch Online thanks to a new hack". Notebookcheck. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  47. ↑ "Incredibly Flexible Data Storage (IFDS) File Format". Github.com. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  48. ↑ "CRDOWNLOAD file extension".