If you work in the office, you might have heard a lot about the file type and file extensions. Does the name file extensions ring a bell? Maybe you know them by their name? .txt, .mp3, .pdf, these and many more are file extensions.
Whenever you save a document to your downloads folder on your computer, it will create a name that ends with the similar (3-4 word) characters. For example, if your file name is Filename.txt, the last three characters .txt is the file extension, meaning that your document is a text document.
Why do you need to know about file types and their extensions? Because, you might find yourself in need of editing them, talking with a professional about them, etc. It is the basic knowledge around the file types and extensions that might come in handy.
MP3
The list starts with one of the most famous file extension that no one can mistake. MP3 indicates an audio file/audio format. Back in the days, we’d call MP3 players just MP3, so it’s obvious why the name is so popular. Almost every song you listen to nowadays is in MP3 format.
You can edit MP3 with online editors and offline editing tools. If you want to cut out a part, add some, or resize the song so it will squeeze in on your favorite CD, you can use the editors to do the job.
We are entering the Document industry. Almost every business and company has something to do with document formats. PDF stands for Portable Document Format. It allows users to capture the document’s original state.
The format has a classy appearance. People often use it for resume building, and for sending important documents. Although it’s not an easy-to-do thing, editing a PDF document can be done with online and offline editors like Sodapdf.
MP4
Don’t confuse MP4 file with an MP3. Even though they are close relatives in a file format family (maybe even cousins) they have a slight difference. MP3 file format displays audio, MP4 displays audio and video.
Another name for MP4 is MPEG4. Once again, online and offline editors are available for this file format. You can even use Windows Movie Maker to do the job.
ZIP
For people who like to send and download multiple documents, .zip is a common file format. ZIP is a compressed file format that allows sending and downloading large documents, multiple audio and video files.
You can easily compress files on your own. Select the desired files, click the right button of your mouse (or a mousepad), click the option of Compress to, and choose the destination.
CSV
If a lot of spreadsheet lovers are reading this article, they will recognize the CSV file format. If you have ever worked in MS excel or google spreadsheets, you know what CSV is. It’s a file format that allows you to store the data in tabular format and share it like a regular document.
These are the most common file types and extensions that you might come across while using the computer like a regular user (or a professional). The more you know, the more you are able to do with your resources.
