File Extensions

The file formats are:

• Word documents (.docx)
• Images (gif and jpg)
• Executable, i.e. executable programs (.exe)
• Multimedia files (.wma and others)

Some common formats that we use in our daily lives are:

1. MP4-MMPEG-4 Part 14:
   • Description: MP4 is a highly versatile video file format that uses both audio and video compression to deliver high-quality multimedia content. It supports various codecs and is widely used for streaming and storing videos.
   • Common Use: MP4 is the standard format for online video streaming and video sharing platforms (YouTube) and is compatible with most media players, smartphones, and tablets.
2. MOV: QuickTime Movie:
   • Description: MOV is a multimedia container format developed by Apple. It can store multiple tracks of audio, video, text, and effects. MOV files often have high-quality video and audio.
   • Common Use: MOV is commonly used for storing video files, especially on Apple devices and software like QuickTime. It’s popular among video editors and professionals.
3. WMV (Windows Media Video):
   • Description: WMV is a video file format developed by Microsoft. It’s known for its efficient compression and good video quality. WMV files can be both standard and high definition.
   • Common Use: WMV files are often used for streaming video on the internet, especially on Windows-based systems. They are compatible with Windows Media Player and other Microsoft software.

AUDIO EXTENSION: Each audio file type has unique benefits and drawbacks.  Here are a few popular audio file types and some unique differences between them.

1. MP3-MMPEG-1 Audio Layer 3:
   • Description: MP3 is a widely used audio file format known for its high compression rate while retaining good audio quality. It achieves this by removing frequencies that are less perceptible to the human ear.
   • Common Use: MP3 files are the standard for music playback and audio storage on various devices, including smartphones, computers, and portable media players.
2. AAC (Advanced Audio Coding):
   • Description: AAC is an audio file format known for its efficiency and superior sound quality compared to MP3 at similar bitrates. It’s a popular choice for digital audio encoding.
   • Common Use: AAC is commonly used for music streaming, digital audio players, and in-app sounds on mobile devices. It’s also the default audio format for iTunes and Apple devices.
3. WMA (Windows Media Audio):
   • Description: WMA is an audio file format developed by Microsoft. It offers good sound quality and can support both lossless and lossy compression methods.
   • Common Use: WMA files are often used for audio streaming, online radio, and digital music libraries. It’s a preferred format for Windows Media Player and Microsoft devices.

IMAGE EXTENSION:

The types of image extension are mentioned below:

1. JPEG (or JPG): Joint Photographic Experts Group:
   • Description: JPEG is a widely used image format that employs lossy compression to reduce file size while maintaining reasonable image quality. It’s suitable for photographs and complex images.
   • Common Use: Used for storing and sharing photographs, digital artwork, and images on the web due to its good balance between image quality and file size.
2. PNG (Portable Network Graphics):
   • Description: PNG is a raster image format that supports lossless compression. It’s capable of displaying transparent backgrounds and is ideal for images with sharp edges, text, and graphics.
   • Common Use: Used for web graphics, logos, icons, and images requiring transparency. It’s favored for its high-quality images with minimal loss of detail.
3. GIF (Graphics Interchange Format):
   • Description: GIF is an image format that supports both static and animated images. It uses lossless compression and a limited color palette, making it suitable for simple animations and graphics.
   • Common Use: Frequently used for short animations, simple web graphics, memes, and icons. It’s known for its support for looped animations.
4. PDF (Portable Document Format):
   • Description: PDF is a versatile document format that can contain text, images, and multimedia elements. It’s designed for consistent presentation across different devices and platforms.
   • Common Use: Widely used for sharing documents, reports, forms, and ebooks. PDFs maintain the layout and formatting of a document regardless of the software or device used to view them.

TEXT EXTENSION:

1. .TXT (Text File):
   • Description: TXT files are plain text documents that contain unformatted text and are easy to create and edit. They lack advanced formatting, styles, or multimedia elements.
   • Common Use: Used for storing simple text data, such as program source code, configuration files, and notes. They are universal and can be opened by numerous text editors.

1. .DOC (Word Document):
   • Description: DOC files are associated with Microsoft Word and store text, images, formatting, and various document elements. They offer extensive formatting options.
   • Common Use: Widely used for creating reports, essays, business documents, and more. However, newer versions of Word use the.DOCX format.

1. .HTML (Hypertext Markup Language):
   • Description: HTML files are used for creating web pages. They consist of structured markup tags that define the structure, content, and formatting of a web document.
   • Common Use: HTML is the standard language for web development. It’s used to create websites and web applications, defining how content is displayed in web browsers.