What are the file extensions (suffixes) for Windows computer files and what are they used for?

File extensions, also known as filename suffixes, are a mechanism used by the operating system to mark the type of a file. In layman's terms, extensions tell the operating system what software to use to open the file by default.

A Windows file name consists of two parts separated by periods:combine pdfs for free windows the first part is the file name, and the second part is a three- or four-character extension that defines the file type. For example, in "xinwen.xlsx", the first part of the file name is "xinwen" with an "xlsx" extension.

The extension tells the computer which created application or other program can open the file and the file's icon. For example, the "Docx" extension tells the computer that Microsoft Word can open the file,convert scanned pdf to word online free large files and when you view the file in File Explorer, the computer is told to display the Word icon.

Most file extensions are compatible with more than one program you have installed. You can change the file extension, but this will not convert the file to a different format, nor will it change anything about the file other than its name. So you can't change all file formats by just changing the file extension. If you want to change the file format, you have to use a format conversion tool.

If you don't see the file extension when you view the file in File Explorer:

Open any folder or My Computer,pdf editor online there is a settings button on the address bar.

In File Explorer, in the Display group under View, check the File Extensions checkbox.

Common document file extensions are as follows.

TXT (for all word processing software and editors), Doc (for Word and WPS), HLP (for Adobe Acrobat Reader), WPS (for WPS), RTF (for word and WPS), HTML (for all browsers and wordpad), PDF (for Adobe Acrobat Reader and various e-readers). Acrobat Reader and a variety of e-reading software)

In fact, this kind of file extension name is not only used for Windows, other Apple's MACOS and Linux and other systems have their unique file extension name, such as .IPA, .tgz and .gz and so on the file extension name. File extension name is to help the system and help us to understand the properties of the file, convenient for us to use the computer in general, so we learn to understand them on our use of the computer has a great help.