# Supported file and content types

A file group can contain files that contain CSV, XML, JSON, Parquet, or Avro content.

By default, the file connector assumes that files use UTF-8 encoding. In your file groups, you can [specify the type of encoding that the files use](/app/setting-up-your-database/file-connector/file-connector-file-groups.md#file-group-csv-encoding).

## Allowed file types <a href="#supported-file-extensions" id="supported-file-extensions"></a>

Files can include the following types:&#x20;

* .csv, .tsv, .xml, .json, .parquet, and .avro files.
* .txt files that contain CSV, XML, or JSON content.
* .gzip files that contain compressed CSV, XML, or JSON content.\
  \
  .gzip files are only supported in workspaces that use files from cloud storage. They are not supported in workspaces that use local files.

## Parquet file limitations <a href="#supported-files-parquet-limitations" id="supported-files-parquet-limitations"></a>

For Parquet files, you cannot select files with the Variant Parquet data type.

## Avro file limitations <a href="#supported-files-avro-limitations" id="supported-files-avro-limitations"></a>

For Avro files, you cannot select files with the following Avro data types:

* Map
* Record

Structural only supports Snappy and Zstandard compression. To request support for additional compression types, contact support.


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