An extension is a three- or four-letter code that shows what kind of file it is and goes after the title. For example,.txt files are text files,.jpg files are picture files, and.docx files are Microsoft Word files. If you tell your computer what kind of file it is, it will be able to open it with the right tool.
The word txt on a file called testfile1.txt, for example, means that the file itself is a plain text document. The file ending for testfile2.jpeg, on the other hand, is.jpeg, which means that it is a JPEG graphic ile.
File extensions can be as short as one or two characters, like.catproduct, or they can be much longer than most. An operating system needs to be able to recognize the name so that it can link it to the right program. The user has to choose which tool to use if the OS can’t figure it out.
File types and operating systems
The file extension might be the only thing an operating system uses to decide which program to use, or it might also use the file’s information. What kind of use and how much use each OS makes of extensions when matching files to programs varies. For example, Windows needs file extensions to work and can’t read files without them. Sometimes Linux needs extensions, but other times it can use the Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) tag that is linked to every file.
MIME
MIME is a way to tell the difference between different file formats so that files can be sent over the internet and read on different computers. For example, when a web browser opens a file, the MIME type tells it how to display the file, even if the file was made by a program on a different OS.
The MIME identifiers let Linux open a file in the right program even if the name of the file doesn’t have an extension. As an example, text/plain is the MIME type for a text file. This number is found in a file without an extension, so Linux knows to start the file in the default text editor. But if an extension is given, Linux will use that instead of the MIME type to figure out which tool to use.
Why is the extension of hidden file?
Windows and macOS are two popular operating systems that hide file names to make them easier to read. The icons for files are still a good way for users to figure out which file extensions belong to common software programs. You can also set up your operating system to show all file names by hand by following these steps:
How do I get Windows 7 to show secret file extensions?
Depending on the version of Windows you have, the exact steps you need to take to tell Windows to show all file extensions are different. If you want to see file extensions in Windows 7, follow these steps:
- Get rid of all the programs that are running so that the Windows desktop shows up.
- Click on the Start button in the bottom-left area.
- Type “Show hidden” into the search box after clicking it.
- Click on “Show hidden files and folders” when it shows up to open the Windows folder options control box.
- Find the “Hide extensions for known file types” box in the control panel once it’s open.
- First, uncheck the box, and then press the “Apply” button.
- Press the “OK” button. Now you should be able to see all file types.
How to see file names that are hidden in Windows 10
When using the Windows 10 operating system, follow these steps to show all secret file extensions:
- Start up File Explorer. Type “File Explorer” into the search bar at Start if it’s not already there.
- Click the View tab in File Explorer once it’s open.
- After Windows shows the View panel, click on the choices box and then select “Change folder and search choices.”
- Click the View tab in the Folder Options box.
- In the Advanced settings list, find the “Hide extensions for known file types” tab and uncheck it.
- Click “Apply” and “OK.” Now you should be able to see all file types.
- Mac OS X: How to show secret file extensions
- If you’re using macOS, you can discover all secret file extensions by following these steps:
- Close all of the computer’s apps so that the desktop can be seen.
- Choose Preferences from the Finder menu.
- To get to the Advanced screen, open the Preferences screen and click on it.
- Find the box that says “Show all filename extensions” in the Advanced Finder Preferences and click on it.
- To close the page and save your changes, click the red X button.
Are there any risks when I change the extension of a file?
Some files, like executable (.exe) and batch (.bat) files, can do damage if they are changed in any way. Most files are safe if their names and/or endings are changed…. You shouldn’t take any risks, especially if you don’t know what kind of information these files hold or how opening them incorrectly could damage your system.
What should I do if the file I download has a name I don’t know?
You should always use Google to learn more about filenames that end in letters or numbers that you don’t know before you try to open or run them on your computer. The same goes for filenames that look like words but don’t match up with known extensions. When you’re done researching and still don’t understand something. Delete it right away, and don’t try to run it on your computer ever again.
How do I change the path to my files in window?
First, make sure that all file names can be seen. Go to Start, type “folder options” into the search box, and then click on “Change how Windows Explorer handles file name extensions” in the Folder Options list. Right-click on any file and choose “Rename” to change the end of the file name. Remember to only keep the four letters at the end when you change it. Don’t add anything else. Once you’re done, press Enter or click somewhere else in the filename field.