What Is Native File Format?
When it comes to file formats, there's no such thing as a free lunch. No matter how much you might want to use a particular format, the fact is that the only way to know if it's right for you is to try it out. So, let's get right down to business! An application's native file format is used to create or store files. Proprietary file formats created by software developers are usually the only ones their programs can use. When other programmers build software replicating or expanding a popular program's features, they also employ this format. This is one way a file format becomes ubiquitous in its field. You can't always trust what you see when it comes to software programs and their native formats. If you're used to saving your work in an image format like .jpg, .png or .bmp, you may have been surprised when your new computer didn't know how to open them. Just, because the program that created these files may have saved them in a different image format than displayed in one that's only readable by that particular program. Furthermore, if you've ever tried to open one, you know how hard they are to open. File created with Microsoft Word (.docx), only to have it open as plaintext (.txt) instead of text formatting. You've experienced this problem firsthand. That's because Word saves its documents with design and other information that other programs can't open unless the user explicitly tells them how (by adding the extension .docx). There are many different kinds of software programs. out there that are designed for specific tasks, by default, most of them will save files in a format that only other programs from the same developer can read but not all developers are so strict about it!
Related Terms by Storage
Join Our Newsletter
Get weekly news, engaging articles, and career tips-all free!
By subscribing to our newsletter, you're cool with our terms and conditions and agree to our Privacy Policy.