Digital Toolchest

Executable File Extensions List

Grab a copy-ready list of executable and installer file extensions across Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile platforms. Each entry includes the extension and its meaning for fast reference.

Executable file extensions(34 extensions)

Ordered by platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, mobile, cross-platform); includes scripts that are directly executed but excludes library files (.dll, .so, .dylib) and bytecode-only formats.

How to use this list

Copy executable extensions in seconds

Takes ~5 seconds
  1. 1
    Choose a format

    Pick text for docs, JSON for code, or HTML for dropdown menus.

  2. 2
    Copy or download

    Click the copy button or download the file for offline use.

  3. 3
    Paste into your project

    Drop the list into a validation rule, file-type filter, documentation page, or UI dropdown.

Need bare extensions in code? Use the JSON format — it outputs a clean array of extension strings like ".exe", ".apk", ".deb".

Who uses this list?

  • Developers building file upload validators or security filters that block or allow executable types
  • Security engineers and sysadmins documenting or auditing allowed executable formats by platform
  • Technical writers creating documentation or reference tables for cross-platform deployment guides

Examples

Text output with extension and meaning.

Input
.exe - Windows Executable
Output
.exe - Windows Executable

JSON output with bare extension values for code.

Input
".exe"
Output
[".exe", ".msi", ".bat", ".app", ".dmg", ".deb", ".rpm", ".apk", ...]

HTML output for a file-type dropdown.

Input
.exe - Windows Executable
Output
<option value=".exe">.exe - Windows Executable</option>

A reference list of executable file extensions

Use this list when you need a reliable, copy-ready set of executable and installer file extensions across all major platforms, each labeled with its purpose.

Looking for a complete executable file extensions list to use in a validator, security rule, or documentation page? This reference covers the most common executable and installer formats across Windows (.exe, .msi, .bat, .cmd, .ps1), macOS (.app, .dmg, .pkg, .command), Linux (.sh, .deb, .rpm, .run, .AppImage, .snap, .flatpak), mobile (.apk, .aab, .ipa), and cross-platform runtimes (.jar, .py, .js). Each entry uses a clear label pairing the extension with its meaning, while the JSON output emits only the bare extension strings — perfect for file-type whitelists, blocklists, and upload validators. The HTML format generates ready-to-paste option tags for select menus in admin panels or configuration UIs. Developers building security tools and sysadmins documenting platform policies will find this list especially useful as a consistent, deterministic starting point. Because the dataset is scoped to files that are directly executed or launched by the operating system, it intentionally excludes shared libraries (.dll, .so, .dylib) and compiled bytecode files that are not themselves executable entry points.

Multi-platform coverage

Covers executable and installer formats for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.

  • Windows: .exe, .msi, .bat
  • macOS: .app, .dmg, .pkg
  • Linux: .deb, .rpm, .AppImage
Label + value format

Each entry pairs a human-readable description with the bare file extension for clean reuse.

  • Descriptive labels
  • Bare extension as value
  • JSON outputs extensions only
Copy-ready in seconds

Switch between text, JSON, and HTML formats to fit any workflow.

  • Plain text for docs
  • JSON array for code
  • HTML <option> tags for dropdowns

Executable extensions list best practices

Keep your extension list platform-aware and documented when using it in security or validation contexts.

  • Annotate which platform each extension belongs to when using the list in security policies or documentation.
  • Use the JSON format to feed extension arrays directly into file validation logic, keeping your code and reference data in sync.
  • Treat this list as a baseline — always review platform-specific documentation before finalizing an allowlist or blocklist in a production environment.

Frequently asked questions

Does this list include script files like .sh and .py?>
Yes. Shell scripts (.sh, .bash, .command), Python scripts (.py), and other directly executed scripts are included because operating systems and runtimes treat them as executable entry points.
Why does the JSON format output only the extension and not the full label?>
The JSON format is designed for code use, so it outputs bare extension strings like ".exe" or ".apk" that you can drop directly into arrays, validators, or configuration files without parsing.
Are shared libraries like .dll or .so included?>
No. This list covers files that serve as executable or installer entry points. Shared libraries (.dll, .so, .dylib) are excluded because they are loaded by executables rather than launched directly.

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