Q: What is the file type Popularity rating and how is it determined?

A: Each file extension entry in FileInfo.com includes a Popularity rating that defines how popular the associated file type is.

The Popularity rating is based on a scale from 1 to 5. The ranking scores are defined as follows:

Stars	Rating	Explanation
	Rare	File types that are no longer used or are only used by obscure programs are given a "Rare" rating. Most users will never see file types with these extensions.
	Uncommon	File types used by programs that not very popular are given an "Uncommon" rating. These file types are often referenced by programs and are not seen by the user.
	Average	File types that are used by most programs are given an "Average" rating. The average user will come across several of these file types, but not on a regular basis.
	Common	File types that are used by popular programs are given a "Common" rating. These file types are typically saved by popular programs and are useful to know.
	Very Common	File types that are used by the most common programs are given a "Very Common" ranking. These file types are ubiquitous and are seen by many users on a daily basis.

You can use the Popularity rating to determine how common various file types are. For example, it may be helpful to remember the file extensions of file types with "Common" and "Very Common" ratings. To view a list of file types that have a "Very Common" rating, visit the Common File Types page.

The Popularity rating is also a good indicator of how easy it will be to find a program to open the associated file type. This is because file types with higher Popularity ratings are typically associated with more prevalent software programs. When a file extension has multiple file associations, the Popularity rating can help you determine what the most common file type is.

Since new software programs are frequently introduced, file types can change in popularity. Therefore, while the Popularity ratings typically remain consistent, you may notice some ratings occasionally change. If you see a file type with a Popularity rating that you feel should be changed, please submit your request and FileInfo.com will take it into consideration.

Updated: June 16, 2011