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?]

(1997-02-13)