When someone mentions an "X file," they generally mean a file ending with `.x`, the
extension after the final dot like `model.x`, which gives the OS a rough idea of how to open it just as `.pdf` or `.zip` do, but because file extensions are only naming conventions, they can easily be changed or reused by different software, making them unreliable at times.
If you have any questions concerning where and how to use
file extension X, you can speak to us at our own web page. A `.x` file may refer to both legacy DirectX 3D assets and Lex lexer source files, so the most direct way to figure out which one you have is to think about where it originated and open it in Notepad or Notepad++ to see whether it contains DirectX text markers like `xof 0303txt` plus mesh/material data, or instead looks like Lex code with `%%` separators or `%{ ... %}` embedded code.
If the file displays garbled data in Notepad, it may be a binary build, but scanning for DirectX-style markers like `TextureFilename` or Lex-like rule tokens can still help, and you should make sure Windows isn’t hiding extensions by enabling "File name extensions" under File Explorer → View, because a file that appears to be `something.x` could actually be `something.x.txt` or even `something.x.exe`, which changes its real identity.
A single extension like `.x` can mean different things because file extensions are primarily a human/software shorthand rather than a strictly enforced rule, and with no universal registry stopping overlap, separate communities can choose the same extension for unrelated uses—such as a 3D group adopting `.x` for DirectX models while programming tools use it for lexer files—something that happens often with very short extensions where limited combinations led to long-term collisions.
Another reason is that an extension typically identifies a loose grouping of files rather than one strict schema, and many formats include both text-based and binary flavors, so `.x` files can look drastically different even inside one workflow; combined with Windows’ reliance on extension-based associations instead of reading the file’s structure, a `.x` file may open in a 3D viewer on one computer and a text editor on another, and because extensions can be renamed without changing the underlying data, mismatches between label and content are common.
Because of all that, the clearest way to identify a `.x` file is to combine contextual clues with a quick look inside using a text editor to find any defining keywords or headers, and if you paste the first 10–20 lines or mention the software it belongs to, I can specify which `.x` format you’re dealing with.
The reason `.x` can denote unrelated formats is that extensions are mostly naming traditions, so two independent communities can select the same one-letter suffix without conflict, and because operating systems rely on associations rather than deep inspection, a `.x` file can open in a 3D application on one system and a text editor on another, making its meaning appear inconsistent.

Some `.x` formats appear in different styles, including text and binary versions, meaning two related `.x` files can look nothing alike in a text editor, and since extensions can be changed so easily, you may find files where the extension doesn’t match the real data, making context and a brief content check the most reliable way to determine what `.x` type you have.