Steps on Screen

What Is a File Name Ending?

A file name ending is the dot and the few letters at the end of a file's name, such as .pdf in report.pdf. It tells the computer what kind of file it is, and so which app opens it. It is also called a file extension.

What it looks like

A drawing of a document with its name, report.pdf, written large beside it. A bracket under report labels it the name, and a bracket under .pdf labels it the ending, which shows the file is a PDF document.

The ending comes after the last dot in the name. Common endings include .pdf for a PDF document, .jpg or .png for a picture, and .docx for a Word document. Changing the ending can stop the file from opening, so when you rename a file, keep its ending as it was.

On Windows and on a Mac

File Explorer on Windows 11 and Finder on a Mac often hide the ending, so a file named report.pdf may show as report. If you change the ending while renaming a file, Windows asks whether you are sure, and a Mac asks which ending to keep.

Lessons that use this word

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