Extension (computing)
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- This article relates to computer programming; for other meanings, see extension.
A common implimentation of an extension is as an alphanumerical character string, usually conventional, apended to a file name and delimited by a fullstop/period. This extension indicates to a computer's operating system which program to use to handle the file. For example, when the operating system receives an Open command for a file with a "txt" extension, it will run the default program for opening a text file, using the name of the file as the argument of the command line. Without an extension, the operating system will return an error or ask the user to specify the program to use to open the file. Although filename extensions are hidden to the user by default by object-oriented operating systems, such as Windows and Macintosh, they are not hidden to the system and can be un-hidden to the user by changing the file manager default. See main article: Filename extension
Another common implimentation of an extension is as an add-on or plug-in which adds functionality to a software package. For example, Mozilla Firefox is a highly extensible Web browser program, while ASP.NET extensions on a network server add functionality to Website management.
Extension may also refer to a device driver or a driver for a certain protocol.
See also
Filename extension
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