Executable and script files can change a device or run code. Only open them when the source is trusted, verify digital signatures when available, scan unknown downloads, and avoid bypassing operating-system security warnings.
Common file types in this category
Filter this category by the first letter of the extension.
A DLL (Dynamic Link Library) file is a library that contains code and data that can be used by more than one program at the same time...
A dylib file is a dynamically linked library used on macOS operating systems. It's analogous to DLL files on Windows and SO files on Li...
A .BTM file is a batch file used by Take Command Console (TCC), a command-line interpreter for Windows. TCC is a replacement for the st...
An EXE file is a common file extension for executable files in Windows operating systems. It contains program code that can be directly...
A .CMD file is a command script file used primarily by the Windows NT family of operating systems (Windows NT, 2000, XP, Vista, 7, 8, 1...
A .NET Assembly file, typically with the extension '.dll' (Dynamic Link Library) or '.exe' (Executable), is a compiled unit of code wri...
A .pkg file is a package installer used on macOS. It's essentially an archive containing the files and instructions needed to install s...
The MSI file extension represents a Windows Installer package. It's a database file format used by the Windows Installer service for in...
The Executable and Linkable Format (ELF) is a common standard file format for executables, object code, shared libraries, and core dump...
A .pyo file is a compiled version of a Python source code file (.py). It's created when Python is run with the `-O` or `-OO` optimizati...
A CRX file is a package file format used by Chromium-based browsers like Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and others to distribute extens...
The .appx file extension is used for application packages in the Universal Windows Platform (UWP). It's essentially a ZIP archive that...
ActiveX controls are small programs, also known as add-ons, that are used on the Internet to provide interactive content for web pages...
OCX files are components used in the Microsoft Windows operating system. They are essentially Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs) that implem...
The .app extension on macOS signifies an Application Bundle. This isn't a single file, but rather a directory (presented as a single fi...
A Flatpak bundle is a self-contained package format used for distributing applications on Linux. It includes the application itself, it...
The Mach-O (Mach Object) file format is a file format used by macOS, iOS, watchOS, and tvOS for executables, object code, shared librar...
A .BAT file is a batch file containing a series of commands to be executed by the command-line interpreter (usually cmd.exe) in Windows...
A DRV file is a device driver file. Device drivers are essential software components that enable the operating system to interact with...
An OLE Control Extension (OCX) file is a type of dynamic-link library (DLL) used in Microsoft Windows operating systems. OCX files cont...
A .pyz file is a Python Zip Application, which is an archive containing Python code that can be executed directly. It's essentially a s...
A shared object file, identified by the `.so` extension, is a dynamically linked library used primarily in Linux and other Unix-like op...
AppImage is a format for distributing portable software on Linux without needing superuser permissions to install the application. It b...
The 'a.out' file extension, short for "assembler output," historically represents an executable file format primarily used in Unix-like...
A DLL (Dynamic Link Library) file is a library that contains code and data that can be used by more than one program at the same time. DLLs are a cruc...
A dylib file is a dynamically linked library used on macOS operating systems. It's analogous to DLL files on Windows and SO files on Linux. Dylibs con...
A .BTM file is a batch file used by Take Command Console (TCC), a command-line interpreter for Windows. TCC is a replacement for the standard CMD.EXE...
An EXE file is a common file extension for executable files in Windows operating systems. It contains program code that can be directly executed by th...
A .CMD file is a command script file used primarily by the Windows NT family of operating systems (Windows NT, 2000, XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10, and 11). It...
A .NET Assembly file, typically with the extension '.dll' (Dynamic Link Library) or '.exe' (Executable), is a compiled unit of code written in a .NET...
A .pkg file is a package installer used on macOS. It's essentially an archive containing the files and instructions needed to install software, fonts...
The MSI file extension represents a Windows Installer package. It's a database file format used by the Windows Installer service for installing, maint...
The Executable and Linkable Format (ELF) is a common standard file format for executables, object code, shared libraries, and core dumps. It is used o...
A .pyo file is a compiled version of a Python source code file (.py). It's created when Python is run with the `-O` or `-OO` optimization flags. These...
A CRX file is a package file format used by Chromium-based browsers like Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and others to distribute extensions, themes, a...
The .appx file extension is used for application packages in the Universal Windows Platform (UWP). It's essentially a ZIP archive that contains all th...
ActiveX controls are small programs, also known as add-ons, that are used on the Internet to provide interactive content for web pages. They are based...
OCX files are components used in the Microsoft Windows operating system. They are essentially Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs) that implement OLE (Object...
The .app extension on macOS signifies an Application Bundle. This isn't a single file, but rather a directory (presented as a single file in the Finde...
A Flatpak bundle is a self-contained package format used for distributing applications on Linux. It includes the application itself, its dependencies...
The Mach-O (Mach Object) file format is a file format used by macOS, iOS, watchOS, and tvOS for executables, object code, shared libraries, dynamicall...
A .BAT file is a batch file containing a series of commands to be executed by the command-line interpreter (usually cmd.exe) in Windows. These files a...
A DRV file is a device driver file. Device drivers are essential software components that enable the operating system to interact with hardware device...
An OLE Control Extension (OCX) file is a type of dynamic-link library (DLL) used in Microsoft Windows operating systems. OCX files contain ActiveX con...
A .pyz file is a Python Zip Application, which is an archive containing Python code that can be executed directly. It's essentially a self-contained P...
A shared object file, identified by the `.so` extension, is a dynamically linked library used primarily in Linux and other Unix-like operating systems...
AppImage is a format for distributing portable software on Linux without needing superuser permissions to install the application. It bundles an appli...
The 'a.out' file extension, short for "assembler output," historically represents an executable file format primarily used in Unix-like operating syst...
Common questions about this file category and related extensions.
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