Extensão

Extensão is a Portuguese word that describes the act or result of extending something, covering its length, range, duration, or scope. The term appears in different fields and everyday language to indicate increase or reach.

In geometry and mathematics, extensão denotes the size or spread of an object or concept. For example, the extensão of a line segment is its length; the extensão of a set is the collection of all elements it contains.

In linguistics and semantics, extensão refers to the external reference of a term—the set of all objects or entities it designates—contrasting with intensão, the sense or concept associated with it.

In computing, extensão means the filename suffix that indicates a file’s format, such as .txt or .jpg. It can also refer to extensions, software add-ons that extend a program’s functionality, including browser extensions and plug-ins.

In Brazil, the Extensão Universitária (university extension) is a program of outreach that connects higher education with society through courses, services, and cultural or community projects. It is considered part of the university’s mission alongside teaching and research, aimed at transferring knowledge to the broader community.

Other common uses include extension of deadlines or timeframes (prorrogação de prazo) and the extension of contracts or permissions, reflecting the idea of prolonging or widening a given limit or scope.