Understanding file types

Once upon a time I thought a PNG file had something to do with the country I was in. Let’s be honest… I bet there are many people who still think this!

In terms of computer files, PNG has nothing to do with Papua New Guinea – it is rather an acronym for Portable Network Graphics. We will get to what a PNG file is shortly.

Before we set off on a journey to unlock the mystery of computer files, let me explain what an acronym is – because we are going to meet many along the way.

According to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary an acronym is: a word formed from the first letters of the words that make up the name of something, for example ‘AIDS’ is an acronym for ‘acquired immune deficiency syndrome’.

Now most acronyms, especially in computing, are what we call three letter acronyms. For example, TLA is actually a three-letter acronym for… you guessed it, a three-letter acronym!

In English we like to contract things as much as possible, so generally three letters is a nice fit for an acronym.

Some file types go beyond three letters – which could be an indication they are an extension of a TLA – for example Microsoft with DOC and DOCX – or it may simply mean that their long-form cannot be compressed into three words (and hence three letters).

English lesson over, let’s get on with identifying file types and their uses.

Introducing file types

When you save any type of file, you have to choose a file type. Different file types serve different purposes, with some file types being better suited for the web while others are better suited for print or other media. To make matters even more complicated, there are different file types for documents, images, audio and video files.

For our purpose now we will focus on some of the different types of files for the 4 primary file types: document, image, video, and audio.

1. Document files

There are a few different types of documents, each of which allows different formatting and offers different benefits. Some of the most common document file formats include PDF, DOC and DOCX, HTML and HTM, and XLS and XLSX.

PDF

Portable document format (PDF) files create presentable documents, including forms and other documents that you may want to share or print without allowing people to modify them. You can even create PDF forms that are fillable, so people can complete the form digitally before printing it out. PDFs can vary quite a bit in size depending on their content.

DOC and DOCX

Microsoft Word created DOC and DOCX files, which is why these are such common formats. DOC files allow you to add images, tables, and other elements directly into documents, plus you can customize font size, color, type, alignment, and more. These files are often used for official letters.

TXT

TXT files are also known as plain text documents because they’re the simplest of all the text document file types. TXT files are used for digital content that only contains text—you can’t use varying font sizes and types, and you can’t add images. Consequently, plain text documents are very small in size.

HTML, HTM and PHP

Hypertext markup language (HTML) files create the structure of a web page. Each HTML file represents a page, which is why you may have seen URLs with “.html” at the end. Keep in mind that HTML files aren’t used in the same ways as other document file types because HTML is used to create websites. A related file type is PHP. The acronym PHP was originally derived from Personal Home Page Tools, but it now stands for PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor, which the PHP Group’s documentation describes as a “recursive acronym.”  A single PHP can contain text, CSS, HTML, JavaScript, and PHP code. PHP code is executed on the server, and the result is returned to the browser as plain HTML.

XLS and XLSX

XLS and XLSX files are used by programs like Excel for spreadsheets. These spreadsheets are a great way to collect and organize data, including things like creating budgets, logging lists of names, and more. Like HTML files, XLS and XLSX files have more specialized purposes.

2. Image Files

When it comes to image files, GIFs, JPEGs, and PNGs are some of the most popular formats. Here’s a breakdown of the differences between the file types.

GIF

Graphics interchange format (GIF) images can either be static or animated. While animated GIFs are commonly used for social media, you can also use them in email marketing. The downside to GIFs is that they offer limited colors, which can reduce the quality of some images.

JPEG or JPG

A Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) file is the most commonly used image file format, and its small file size makes it ideal for web use. Unfortunately, JPEG images don’t support transparency or animation, plus the compression used to achieve small file sizes can compromise image quality.

PNG

While a portable network graphics (PNG) file can be up to 10 times as large as a similar JPEG, PNG images are also great for web use. The PNG image file format allows for a wider range of colors, lossless compression, and transparency. However, PNG images are bad for print.

SVG

Scalable vector graphics (SVG) files are images that you can scale to different sizes without compromising the quality of the image. These graphics are great for web use, and the lossless scalability means it can be a good idea to have an SVG file of your logo as part of your brand style guide.

TIFF or TIF

Tagged image file format (TIFF) files support both RGB and CMYK colors, which makes them great for print. If you’re designing letterhead, flyers, or invitations, TIFF files using the CMYK format will ensure your colors look the same on your computer and on paper. However, many web browsers don’t support TIFF files.

3. Video Files

Videos are a great way to engage with your audience, and some of the most popular file types include MP4, AVI, and MOV.

MP4

The Moving Picture Experts Group layer four (MP4) file type is supported by most computers and mobile devices, but other video file types offer higher resolutions. Still, MP4 files are great if you’re uploading a video to the web, whether that’s your website or a social media account.

AVI

Audio video interleave (AVI) files aren’t the smallest, but they can provide and maintain better quality than MP4 files. Like MP4 files, AVI files are popular, which means you can use them for the web as well.

MOV

Apple created the MOV file type for the QuickTime video player, but Windows operating systems also support this type. Because MOV files aren’t widely accepted across all devices, they’re used in the video editing stage more than anything.

 FLV

Flash video (FLV) is a format developed by Adobe and designed to be used with Adobe Flash Player. FLV files are widely compatible and small in size, so they do have some uses, but they’re not used as commonly as other video file types.

 AVCHD

If you’ve ever used a camcorder, you’ve dealt with Advanced Video Coding High Definition (AVCHD) files. These files are mostly used by recording devices, with the benefit being that AVCHD files are easy to watch on a TV. AVCHD files can create discs of recordings from compatible devices.

4. Audio files

MP3 might be the biggest name when it comes to audio formats, but here’s what you need to know about the others as well.

M4A

MPEG 4 audio (MP4) files can offer lossless compression, although these M4A files are larger in size. Apple created M4A for QuickTime, which means it’s mostly used for songs on Apple and iTunes platforms.

MP3

MPEG audio layer 3 (MP3) files are the standard when it comes to audio, including web use. MP3 files work with pretty much every device in the world, although the lossy compression means they offer lower quality than some other formats. Still, MP3s are king when it comes to audio.

WAV

WAV files have the very best quality. These audio files don’t compress the source audio at all, which means it sounds exactly as intended. These files may be used for TV, DVD, and radio productions.

FLAC

FLAC is another lossless audio format, but they’re a lot larger than common audio file types such as MP3s. FLACs are most commonly used for music, although you can use them to slightly compress the size of any high-quality audio file.

We have only just touched the surface of file types, but I think we have covered the main ones. You will come across others like PPT (relating to Microsoft PowerPoint) and ZIP which is an archive file format that allows you compress more than one file and literally zip them into one single folder for the purpose of say, sharing it via email or other form of transfer. The ZIP folder icon is instantly recognisable as it has a zipper running along it!

A final word of advice – if you come across a file type that you are unfamiliar with, or you are just curious, then simply Google it! That way you will always avoid the misassumption that PNG files are anything but!

 

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