File extensions: the ending of a filename
A file extension is the final part of a filename, usually after its last dot. In quiz.pliro, the extension is .pliro. It gives people and programs a clue about the file’s purpose.
Names you will meet
| Extension | Usual purpose here |
|---|---|
.pliro |
Pliro source code |
.bipli |
A portable Pliro project bundle |
.md |
Markdown documentation, such as this article |
.json |
Structured text data |
.png |
An image |
.exe |
A Windows executable application |
The file format is the actual set of rules for the contents. An extension is a label. Renaming drawing.png to drawing.pliro does not turn its picture data into source code, just as writing “juice” on a water bottle does not change the drink.
Source and finished app
A .pliro file can be read as text. Building a program creates an application containing machine instructions and its needed runtime support. Renaming the source to .exe does not perform that build.
A .bipli project can hold several source files, a manifest, and assets. It is more than a single source file with a different name.
Watch the whole name
Some file browsers hide familiar extensions. A file that looks like quiz.pliro might actually be named quiz.pliro.txt. If Pliro cannot recognize a file, inspect its full name. The extension alone also cannot prove that a downloaded file is safe.