AI engineering glossary · Computing foundations
What is file extension?
File extension: The short suffix after the dot at the end of a file name, such as .csv or .py, that hints at the file's format and which program should open it. It is only a label, and changing it does not convert the contents.
File extension: an example
Renaming data.csv to data.xlsx does not turn it into an Excel workbook; only the label changes.
Related terms
More Computing foundations terms
- File system
- Firewall
- Firmware
- Floating-point number
- Garbage collection
- Global interpreter lock
- Graphical user interface
- Graphics processing unit
Where you learn it
File extension is part of the AI Engineering Program, which teaches it with notes, a hands-on lab and an exam. The first lesson is free.