file type


file type

(file format)The kind of data stored in a file. Most modernoperating systems use the filename extension to determinethe file type though some store this information elsewhere inthe file system. The file type is used to choose anappropriate icon to represent the file in a GUI and thecorrect application with which to view, edit, run, or printthe file.

Different operating systems support different sets of filetypes though most agree on a large common set and allowarbitrary new types to be defined.

See also MIME.

FileInfo.net - The File Extensions Resource

file type

The kind of file. All computer files are categorized by their contents, such as program files, text files, image files and so on. See file, extension and Win File Association.