A file type (or file format) is a standardized way that data is encoded and stored on a computer system. The three- or four-letter code at the end of a filename (e.g., .jpg or .mp3) is the file extension, which tells your operating system which software is needed to open and read it.
Specific file types are categorized into broad groups based on their purpose: 1. Documents & Data
.pdf (Portable Document Format): The universal standard for sharing professional documents. It preserves the exact layout, fonts, and images, making it uneditable without specialized software.
.docx / .doc: The standard file type for Microsoft Word. Ideal for resumes, reports, and editable text. Older .doc files have been replaced by the XML-based .docx.
.txt: Plain text containing no fonts, styles, or images. It can be opened by virtually any text editor.
.xlsx / .xls: Microsoft Excel spreadsheet files used for data analysis, tracking, and budgeting.
.csv (Comma-Separated Values): A simple text format for tabular data where values are separated by commas. It is widely used for importing/exporting database datasets. Microsoft Support Common file name extensions in Windows – Microsoft Support
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