Files with res extension are used by Microsoft Linker utility. They can be specified when they are linked a program.
RES file extension - Microsoft Linker resource compiler input file
What is res file? How to open res files?
File type specification:
The res file extension is associated with the Microsoft Linker. The .res file stores resources for compiler.
You can specify a .res file when linking a program. The .res file is created by the resource compiler (RC). LINK automatically converts .res files to COFF. The CVTRES.exe tool must be in the same directory as LINK.exe or in a directory specified in the PATH environment variable.
Windows NT uses a special format for the executable (image) files and object files. The format used in these files are referred to as Portable Executable (PE) or Common Object File Format (COFF) files. The name Portable Executable refers to the fact that executable files can run on more than one platform. This article describes in detail the internal features of PE/COFF file formats and its parameters.
The default software associated to open res file:
Company or developer:
Microsoft Corporation
Microsoft Visual Studio is an integrated development environment (IDE) used to create applications for Microsoft Windows, Windows Mobile, .NET Framework, Silverlight as well as dynamic websites and web applications. Visual Studio is available for Windows and Mac.
List of recommended software applications associated to the .res file extension
Recommended software programs are sorted by OS platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android etc.)
and possible program actions that can be done with the file: like open res file, edit res file, convert res file, view res file, play res file etc. (if exist software for corresponding action in File-Extensions.org's database).
Unspecified and all other actions for computer programs working with res file - Microsoft Linker resource compiler input file
Click on the software link for more information about Microsoft Visual Studio. Microsoft Visual Studio uses res file type for its internal purposes and/or also by different way than common edit or open file actions (eg. to install/execute/support an application itself, to store application or user data, configure program etc.).