File extensions are a crucial part of how computers understand and process files. These short series of letters come after the period in the file name and tell both the computer and user what type of file it is. This article will explore ten separate file extensions, their possible formats, and ways to open and use them.
PDF(Portable Document Format)
The .PDF file extension stands for Portable Document Format, devised by Adobe Systems. These files can be opened in programs like Adobe Acrobat Reader, web browsers like Google Chrome, or any other PDF reader program.
JPEG(Joint Photographic Experts Group)
Used commonly for photographic images, .JPEG files can be opened in numerous ways including image viewers, graphics software like Adobe Photoshop, and even through the default photo viewer on your computer.
MP3(Moving Picture Experts Group Audio Layer III)
.MP3 is a widely-used compressed audio format. MP3 files can be played in many types of software, including almost all media players and many smartphones.
MP4(Moving Picture Experts Group 4)
A .MP4 file is a multimedia file commonly used to store video and audio, but it can also contain subtitles or images. VLC Media Player is a great tool to use for opening and using these files.
DOC(Document)
The .DOC extension is used mainly for word processing documents from Microsoft Word, but can also be read and opened in a variety of other word processing software like Google Docs or OpenOffice.
XLS(Excel Spreadsheet)
.XLS files are created by the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet application, part of the Microsoft Office Suite. They can be read and edited in Excel or imported into Google Sheets.
PPT(PowerPoint Presentation)
Files with .PPT extensions are created using Microsoft PowerPoint for Slide show presentations. PPT files can be opened with various Microsoft applications and can also be uploaded and viewed in Google Slides.
CSS(Cascading Style Sheets)
.CSS files are used to format the layout of Web pages. They can be opened in any text-editor or web development software.
HTML(HyperText Markup Language)
Files that contain the .HTML extension are written in the HyperText Markup Language. These can be opened in any web browser or text editor.
TEN File Important Information
Contained within the .TEN file format, typically holds information for programs used for various purposes, from gaming data to software development tools. Opening these might require the software they were originally meant to be used with, or a dedicated reader/extractor program.
