What do file extensions (exe, pdf, etc) actually do?
In: Technology
High level overview: They conveniently distinguish or guide users and operating systems to tell what this file is about?
A file with the “exe” extension is an executable file or a program file. Back in the DOS (disk operating system) days there was a limit to how long a file name could be 8.3 was the rule.
asdfg3jk.exe
PDF is a type of document that is used by Adobe systems. The file has attributes within it that tell the applications / programs how to format it so it can be displayed.
The DLL extension is short for “Dynamic Link Library”. Let’s say you want to run a word processor. The exe file starts the program, it has the basic information, it also has references in it to the DLL files which are the other parts of the program.
Programs are so large today that loading every feature when the exe file is run would crash the computer.
Latest Answers