A file extension is a suffix that indicates the type, format, or content of a file. Different file extensions are associated with different applications, programs, or functions. For example, .bat is a file extension for a batch file, which is a script that contains a series of commands to be executed by the command-line interpreter. .avi is a file extension for an audio video interleave file, which is a multimedia container format that stores video and audio data. .rtf is a file extension for a rich text format file, which is a document format that supports text formatting, such as fonts, colors, and styles.

A consolidated group of files is a collection of files that are compressed or archived into a single file, usually to reduce the file size, save disk space, or facilitate file transfer. A consolidated group of files can be created or extracted by using a compression or archiving software, such as WinRAR, 7-Zip, or WinZip. One of the most common file extensions for a consolidated group of files is .rar, which stands for Roshal Archive. .rar is a proprietary file format that supports data compression, error recovery, encryption, and splitting. For example, in the following image1, a folder named Documents contains four files: resume.docx, report.pdf, budget.xlsx, and presentation.pptx. The folder is compressed into a single file named Documents.rar, which has a smaller file size and can be easily attached to an email or uploaded to a cloud storage.

Therefore, the correct answer is C. .rar, as it is the file extension that is used for a consolidated group of files.

References:

CompTIA IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+) Certification Exam Objectives, page 15, section 3.5

CompTIA IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+) Study Guide, page 191, section 7.4

CompTIA IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+) All-in-One Exam Guide, Second Edition, page 287, chapter 8

Using File Systems | CompTIA IT Fundamentals+ (FC0-U61) | Part 25 of 38