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Intro to Computingfundamentals~10 mins

File formats and extensions in Intro to Computing - Flowchart & Logic Diagram

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Process Overview

File formats and extensions help computers understand what type of data a file holds and which program can open it. This process shows how a computer uses the file extension to decide how to handle a file.

Flowchart
User selects a file
Computer reads file extension
Open with [Show error: "Unknown file type"
This flowchart shows how a computer uses the file extension to decide whether it can open the file with a known program or show an error if the extension is unknown.
Step-by-Step Trace - 4 Steps
Step 1: User selects a file named 'photo.jpg'.
Step 2: Computer reads the file extension '.jpg'.
Step 3: Computer checks if '.jpg' is a recognized extension.
Step 4: Computer opens the file with the associated image viewer program.
Diagram
File: photo.jpg
+----------------+
| photo          |
| .jpg (ext)     |
+----------------+
        |
        v
+----------------+
| Image Viewer   |
| Program        |
+----------------+
This diagram shows a file named 'photo.jpg' with its extension '.jpg' linked to the Image Viewer program that can open it.
Flowchart Quiz - 3 Questions
Test your understanding
What does the computer check first when opening a file?
AThe file creation date
BThe file extension
CThe file size
DThe file color
Key Result
File extensions act like labels that tell the computer which program should open a file.