File Format

File Format, in computer science, the structure of a file that defines the way it is stored and laid out on the screen or in print. The format can be fairly simple and common, as are files stored as “plain” ASCII text, or it can be quite complex and include various types of control instructions and codes used by programs and by printers and other devices. Examples include RTF (Rich Text Format), DCA (Document Content Architecture), PICT, DIF (Data Interchange Format), DXF, TIFF (Tag Image File Format), and EPSF (Encapsulated PostScript Format).