File type




<file format> The kind of data stored in a file.

Most modern operating systems use the filename extension to determine the file type though some store this information elsewhere in the file system.

The file type is used to choose an appropriate icon to represent the file in a GUI and the correct application with which to view, edit, run, or print the file.

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

See also MIME.

[URL of list of file types?]



< Previous Terms Terms Containing file type Next Terms >
file signature
file system
Filesystem Hierarchy Standard
file transfer
File Transfer Protocol
binary file
file type
Group 3
Group 4
Interchange File Format
filing system
filk
fill-out form
film at 11
FILO