File Types and File Extensions in Visual Studio .NET
Visual Studio .NET supports a large number of file types and their associated file extensions. This topic includes a list of file types specific to using Visual Studio. A complete list of extensions of files supported by Visual Studio and its designers and tools is not within the scope of this topic; however, you can search for a file extension in the index to get a list of related topics.
Solution Files (.sln and .suo)
Visual Studio .NET uses two file types (.sln and .suo) to store settings specific to solutions. These files, known collectively as solution files, provide Solution Explorer with the information it needs to display a graphical interface for managing your files. They allow you to concentrate on your projects and final goals rather than on the environment itself each time you return to your development tasks.
| Extension | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| .sln | Visual Studio.Solution | Organizes projects, project items and solution items into the solution by providing the environment with references to their locations on disk. |
| .suo | Solution User Options | Records all of the options that you might associate with your solution so that each time you open it, it includes customizations that you have made. |
Project Files
Visual Studio .NET uses a variety of file formats to store information specific to projects. For more information, see the following help topics:
Visual C++
File Types Created for Visual C++ ProjectsCreating Managed Extensions for C++ Projects
Creating and Managing Visual C++ Projects
Unicode
Visual Basic and Visual C#
File Types and File Extensions in Visual Basic and Visual C#Adding and Deleting Document Types and Associated File Extensions in the File Types Editor
Source Control Services
Adding Source Control File ExtensionsDeployment
File Types Management in DeploymentVisual Studio .NET Environment
PDB Files