Which file extension is commonly associated with Windows application installation packages?

The file extension commonly associated with Windows application installation packages is .exe. This extension indicates that the file is an executable program that can run a process when opened. In the context of software installation, .exe files often initiate the installation process for various applications. They can contain the necessary files and instructions needed to install the application on a Windows operating system.

Other file extensions serve different purposes. For example, .txt files are standard text documents, .dll files are Dynamic Link Libraries that provide functions and resources for executable files but are not installation packages themselves, and .zip files are compressed file archives used to package files together, which can sometimes contain installation files but are not used for executing installations directly. Thus, the .exe extension is distinctively recognized for its role in launching installation processes.