<P> The . iso file extension is the one most commonly used for this type of disc images . The . img extension can also be found on some ISO image files, such as in some images from Microsoft DreamSpark; however, IMG files, which also use the . img extension, tend to have slightly different contents . The . udf file extension is sometimes used to indicate that the file system inside the ISO image is actually UDF and not ISO 9660 . </P> <P> Any single - track CD - ROM, DVD or Blu - ray disc can be archived in ISO format as a true digital copy of the original . Unlike a physical optical disc, an image can be transferred over any data link or removable storage medium . An ISO image can be opened with almost every multi-format file archiver . Native support for handling ISO images varies from operating system to operating system . </P> <P> Hybrid disc formats include the ability to be read by different devices, operating systems, or hardware . In the past, one example of this use was for a disc that supported both Microsoft Windows and Macintosh installations from a single disk image (by containing several file systems). </P> <P> An ISO can be "mounted" with suitable driver software, i.e. treated by the operating system as if it were a physical optical disc . Most Unix - based operating systems, including Linux and macOS, have built - in capability to mount an ISO . Versions of Windows after and including Windows 8 also have such capability . For other operating systems software drivers can be installed to achieve the same objective . </P>

What does .iso stand for in computer files