Computer file types are used to identify the format of a file and determine which program should be used to open it. There are many different file types, each with their own unique characteristics and uses. Understanding these different file types and how to recognise them can be helpful in managing your files and ensuring they are opened with the correct program.
In Windows operating systems, file types are usually identified by the file extension, which is the group of letters that appear after the period in the file name. For example, a file with the name “document.docx” would be a Microsoft Word document, while a file with the name “picture.jpg” would be a JPEG image. Some common file extensions in Windows include:
.docx, .doc: Microsoft Word documents
.xlsx, .xls: Microsoft Excel spreadsheets
.pptx, .ppt: Microsoft PowerPoint presentations
.jpg, .jpeg, .png, .gif: image files
.mp3, .wav: audio files
.mp4, .avi, .mkv: video files
In Apple operating systems, file types are also identified by the file extension, but the operating system also uses a system called “file type codes” to identify the format of a file. File type codes are a four-letter identifier that appears at the beginning of the file name, preceded by a period. For example, a file with the name “.PDF” would be a Portable Document Format (PDF) file. Some common file type codes in Apple include:
.PAGES: Apple Pages documents
.NUMB: Apple Numbers spreadsheets
.KEY: Apple Keynote presentations
.JPG, .JPEG, .PNG, .GIF: image files
.M4A, .MP3: audio files
.MOV, .MP4: video files
In Linux operating systems, file types are usually identified by the file extension, but some files may not have an extension. The file command is used to identify the format of a file. The file command takes a file name as an input and returns the type of the file, for example a file named “example.txt” would return “example.txt: ASCII text”.
It is also possible to identify what program might have previously opened a file by looking at the metadata of the file. Metadata is information about a file that is stored within the file itself, such as the date the file was created, who created it, and which program was used to create it. To view the metadata of a file, you can right-click on the file and select “Properties” (Windows) or “Get Info” (Apple). In Linux, the metadata can be viewed by using the command ‘ls -l’
In summary, understanding different file types and how to recognize them can be helpful in managing your files and ensuring they are opened with the correct program. File types are usually identified by the file extension in Windows and Linux, while in Apple, file types are identified by both file extension and file type codes. You can also check the metadata of a file to identify what program might have previously opened it.
