| Extension | DXF |
| Full Name | Drawing Exchange Format |
| Type | CAD |
| Mime Type | image/x-dxf |
| Format | Binary |
A DXF file was created by Autodesk as a standardized format for storing complex 2D and 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD) drawings in a single, standard package that can be used for seamless exchanging of data between different CAD systems.
The DXF format is plain text and allows CAD elements such as points, lines, curves, and other elements to be represented in an efficient manner that is easy to read by other CAD applications. The use of plain text does, however, cause the files to grow in size quickly when storing large and complex CAD drawings.
As DXF files are designed from the start to be an open and standard format, there are many CAD and 2D drawing applications that offer support for importing and exporting to the DXF format.
| Extension | GIF |
| Full Name | Graphics Interchange Format |
| Type | Image |
| Mime Type | image/gif |
| Format | Binary |
| Opens With | Paint.Net |
GIF files have been around since the dawn of the internet and are a popular choice of format for storing images and animations. Images stored within a GIF file can be stored at low bits per pixel to reduce the size of the GIF file, leading to improved download speeds. Reducing the number of bits per pixel, if done correctly, can lead to no noticeable difference in image quality.
Along with static images, GIF files are also capable of storing short video or animation sequences. This capability has proved very popular, with animated GIFs being created and used on websites and social media. GIF files are also a popular format for storing and transmitting internet memes.
With newer and more capable formats such as PNG and WEBP taking over as the default standard for images and animations on the web, the GIF format is slowly declining in popularity. Support for GIF files within image editing software is still strong and will likely continue.
