Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

File Formats

Sound, pictures, video, and text are all binary data stored in different file formats on a computer.

File formats

File formats

  • Data can be arranged and stored in files in many different file formats.
  • The format of a particular file is indicated by the file extension, found at the end of the filename.
    • An image file with filename "photo.jpg" has a file extension of ".jpg".
    • We identify this image as having the JPEG format.
  • Different programs have certain formats of files that they can open.
Open-source vs proprietary

Open-source vs proprietary

  • Proprietary files are files that can be opened only by specific software programs.
    • For example, Adobe Photoshop files with the extension .PSD can only be opened by Adobe programs.
  • Encoding methods for proprietary files types are often restricted through licences.
  • Open format file types are published for free and can be used by everybody.
Examples of file formats

Examples of file formats

  • Sound files: .aac, .mp3, .wav, .mid, .flac, .aiff
  • Text files: .doc, .txt, .rtf
  • Image files: .jpeg, .gif, .png, .bmp
  • Video files: .mov, .mp4, .flv, .wmv
Jump to other topics
1

Computer Systems

1.1

Data Representation

1.2

Data Transmission

1.3

Hardware

1.4

Software

1.5

The Internet & its Uses

1.6

Cyber Security

1.7

Automated & Emerging Technologies

2

Algorithms, Programming & Logic

Practice questions on File Formats

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
Answer all questions on File Formats

Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium

  • Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions

  • Mini-mock exams based on your study history

  • Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books

Get started with Seneca Premium