File format

0
24K

A file format is a specification of the structure of data recorded in a computer file. The file format identifier is usually indicated at the end of the file name in the form of an "extension". The file name extension helps identify the format of the data contained in the file to programs that can work with it. Sometimes the data format is additionally specified at the beginning of the file content.

The operating system uses file-to-program mapping (association) to determine which program can open a file.

For example, the name extension ".txt" is usually used to refer to files that contain only textual information, and ".doc" is used to refer to textual information structured according to Microsoft Word standards. Files whose contents correspond to the same format (less commonly, to the same format family) are sometimes referred to as files of the same type.

Since the common concept of a file in computing is an unstructured sequence of bytes, computer programs that store structured data in files must somehow convert it into a sequence of bytes and vice versa (in OOP, these operations are called "serialization" and "deserialization," respectively; for textual information, the latter is also called "parsing" or "parsing"). The algorithm for these transformations, as well as the conventions on how the various pieces of structured data are arranged within the file and make up its "format."

Different file formats may differ in the level of detail, one format may be an "add-on" to another, or use elements of other formats. For example, the text format imposes only the most general constraints on the data structure. The HTML format sets additional rules on the internal structure of the file, but any HTML file is also a text file.

Another example is the structure of computer programs, i.e. executable files: it must strictly conform to certain expectations (specifications) of the operating system that runs it.

Search
Categories
Read More
Business
How Do I Validate My Business Idea?
Validating a business idea is a crucial step in the entrepreneurial journey. Before diving into...
By Dacey Rankins 2025-03-04 14:41:31 0 5K
Business
55 Business Ideas For Startups 2024: The Best Ideas To Start A Business This Year
55 Business Ideas For Startups 2024: The Best Ideas To Start A Business This Year...
By Leonard Pokrovski 2024-07-30 15:45:02 0 17K
Mental Health
Autism Spectrum: Repetitive Behaviours
ASD includes a wide variety of characteristics. Some of these include behavioral characteristics...
By Kelsey Rodriguez 2023-02-16 15:28:10 0 7K
Business
How Can I Apply to a Startup Incubator?
For many entrepreneurs, joining a startup incubator can be a pivotal step in turning a promising...
By Dacey Rankins 2025-04-24 17:00:06 0 4K
Социальные проблемы
Квартира. The Apartment. (1960)
Скромный служащий страховой компании Бакстер, чтобы хоть как-то продвинуться по карьерной...
By Nikolai Pokryshkin 2023-01-18 22:38:50 0 20K
image/svg+xml


BigMoney.VIP Powered by Hosting Pokrov