【EXECUTABLE FILE EXTENSIONS】Types ▷ 2022

A computer is much more complex than any user could imagine. If you knew its history and evolution you would really be surprised with what we have been able to achieve today. And among the many advances, today we want to talk about executable files.

These are special files that have the particularity of working by themselves, simply using an operating system, without having to install programs. In fact, they are the elements that make a program settle and appear out of nowhere (in many cases).

Do you find it curious? Want to learn more about executables? Although it may be a bit complex in terms of vocabulary, we are going to explain it so that, when you finish the text, you will be able to explain what this resource consists of and you can get an idea, looking through your folders, which ones are and which ones don’t

What are executable files and what are they really for?

The executable filealways referring to computing, is that file that, due to its own characteristics, can be interpreted by a machine without requiring specific programs for it. Is that it will be the computer itself that recognizes it and executes thanks to its composition. It is based on basic instructions own according to their purpose.

Typically, at the same time, they are of binary type and include scripts (they also have instructions that other software will interpret), although this does not always have to be the case. Its base is machine code instructions. for specific processors.

In some cases, we also find bytecode in need of interpretation for what would be known as “making system calls”, something more complex but which also happens every day when we use a computer.

Be that as it may, if accompanied by others , the executable will be the one that starts its execution, loading and management.

We can classify them into:

• portable. Its execution is available on various platforms.
• not portable. Such execution can only be performed on the platform for which the file has been designed.

What we can conclude is that the concept has become ambiguous, or quite the opposite, because, as we advance in computing, the characteristics of the files have been changing, evolving to create more complex files that make classification fuzzy between a mere executable and a more complex script or file.

In the end, what we can determine is that the essence of this is that inside it has the instructions to be executedThese are not conferred or used by any other type of file or program, although it is true that, in addition to these, we can find extra information in some cases.

Autorun files

Within these we can differentiate what we call files self-running. These have the necessary instructions so that they themselves can do the tasks assigned to them.

There is no original software necessary for this, but they can start working on any computer regardless of what they have installed both on the system and afterwards.

Beware of executable files! The entire group is inherently dangerous by its very nature. However, the autorun is even more attractive for that the cybercriminal on duty turns it intobeing, as you can suppose, the contagion of the equipment much faster and easier, since they do not require action by the user or specific elements.

Difference between executable files and non-executable files

We start by stating that the executable works by itselfrunning by the computer and carries out tasks according to coded instructions.

The non-executable is an information container file; It is not executed by the machine but by a specific program for it (an image with a viewer or an editor, an audio with a player, etc.) and the task it has is specific. In fact, the computer cannot carry out said execution.

The types are, on the one hand, scripts or compiled and, on the other, text files, spreadsheets, videos, databases. That is, the latter are content data that can be displayed to user Ypossibly, Modify if you have the necessary (extra) tool.

Types of executable file extensions and their associated programs to open them

On this occasion we cannot, as we always do, show you a table, what softwares are used to open this type of files because, as we have already seen, they do not need them. What we will show you are some of its features and operating system in which they work.

As we always say, the table is made up of those most famous or functional executable files, but there are many more. Although, for conventional use of a computer, knowing these will be more than enough for you to consider yourself an above-average user in this regard.

Extension Features System/Program .exe

• executable par excellence
• Very common in the installation of all kinds of desktop programs
• Maintains the size of the executable
• It is created by compiling (runs only on the chosen platform) or by assembling

• windows
• macOS (emulating PC architecture)
• Linux (requires external software installed or an emulator)

.air

• They store installation information for A-Air, a software development runtime app.
• The usual thing is that they are distributed by download although we can receive them complete by various physical and digital channels.
• Requires Adobe Air.

• Adobe Air (MacOS and Windows)

.scr

• They are usually executable scripts within a program, specific to this
• This is the list of commands that the system executes in order
• They are displayed as plain text but are not editable
• Commonly used for screen savers, installed in the background
• Show vector graphics or animations
• Ideal as Trojans because they cannot be overwritten

• creator program
• common text editor

.vb

• Information written in the language that gives it its name, Visual Basic
• Include information on projects under development
• This can be local or occur on the network
• It occurs in ACSII
• Its components vary completely from one to another: dialogs, interfaces, classes, forms, logos…

• Windows (Dreamweaver, Visual Studio and WScript)
• macOS (Dreamweaver only)
• All text editors

.bat

• Processes in batches; chain execution of programs
• They are used by the Windows console
• ASCII Plain Text
• They are created and edited in text editors.

• windows
• macOS (parallel desktop)
• Text editors (creation, visualization and edition)

.com

• The first
• Very simple structure, with a single segment
• restrict the size
• They look, in part, like a disk image
• This image is stored linearly

• Modern Windows-based platforms but not x64
• DOS emulators
• macOS (on parallel desktops)

.dll

• Additional executable library information
• They modularize the executable code, making it less heavy
• Its dynamic loading allows better system performance
• A generic code allows its use in several applications

.bin

• Data encoded in binary code, without text
• By parts of 8 characters, different elements such as sounds or images are interpreted
• Part translates into text and another is about format and functionalities
• They usually include programs necessary for the OS to work with it
• These are usually CD images
• Translates to plain text to prevent improper execution attempt

• text editors
• hexadecimal editors
• CD-ROM creation programs

.apk

• It has application form
• Used for applications, distributing and installing packaged components
• Made up of a compiled Android program and other parts in a single file
• Generally, unofficial use of software (beta version or without support, replica…)
• JAR variant

• android systems
• File archiver software with Android emulator

.app

• The executable extension par excellence for macOS programs
• Analogous to EXE
• It is a package file, which allows us to see its contents with a right click.
• They include both the executable of the application to which they correspond and its resources.
• These can also be moved and modified, although we never recommend it.
• The logic of a program
• They can be crawled to offer resources of interest to you that are installed on the machine (loading components, libraries for implementing functions, etc.)

• macOS
• Windows (only display if WinRAR is used)

.ds or .dsa

• Specific for 3D modeling
• Its storage is in ASCII
• The software uses it to apply presets and to import and export more formats

• DAZ 3D Studio (Windows and macOS)

.cgi

• Scripts with a specific programming language, usually C or Perl.
• Its use is for basic executions on the Internet
• This is the standard protocol for external programs and apps to interact with a server
• They have web server storage
• Can be edited before build
• Content is plain text

• macOS (Bare Bones Edit, MacroMates TextMate)
• Windows (Notpad)
• Linux (Rich ER)

.pif

• A file that links to programs of various kinds to make them work
• Sometimes they are represented as shortcuts or links to other executables
• They are generated when making shortcuts and when programs are modified
• It works by direct path to an EXE or similar
• It includes information such as the memory that the program will use or how big its window will be

.cmd

• Commands and their order
• batch file
• Essential in the operation of the operating system
• Primary malware target

• windows
• Windows with DOS
• macOS (on parallel desktop)

.wsf

• Representation of Windows Script Files
• Executable scripts do it in different routines, especially VSScript and JScript.
• The content is usually plain text but we also find XML
• This happens automatically if you have WScript or CScript installed.
• You open them with simple text editors

.ipa

• We find it in all kinds of applications for iOS devices.
• They are transferred by iTunes.
• They are stored in a zip and are decompressed with any decompressor type tool, although they do not require compression to use

.gadget

• Windows programs that run in the bars of the operating system itself
• Very general (games, extensions, search tools…)
• The source code files are very varied (HTML, CSS, JS…)
• Likewise, they would include other types of files such as development or web
• Store content in zip
• format already discontinued
• Users can create their own gadgets