File extension indicates the location of the file format. Computer users apply it as a direction as to which application software to open to display the format. With the file extensions, windows uses a file association list to help users open their files without first starting the application. Also the application software can prevent you from going through all the files to look for the correct file. Even though using a file extension is a …showed first 75 words of 449 total…

…showed last 75 words of 449 total…describes exactly how the data is to be encoded, and which can be used to determine whether or not a particular program treats a particular file format correctly. Since programs see files as streams of data, a method is required to determine the format of a particular file within the file system--an example of metadata. Different operating systems have traditionally taken different approaches to this problem, with each approach having its own advantages and disadvantages.