What is the difference between File Type and File Format?

Solution 1:

file type is the extension of a file. e.g .pdf, .mp4, .exe etc.

file format is more of a data structure of a certain file type:

A file format defines the syntax (permitted values, formal structure/"grammar") and semantics (meaning and interpretation) of data within a file. It thus represents a bidirectional mapping of information onto a one-dimensional binary memory.

Knowing the file format is essential for interpreting the information stored in a file. Modern operating systems use the file format to assign files to applications that can interpret the files.

e.g mp4 is one of many video file formats but it's the only mp4 file type. because file type is just the extension. video file format would be more of an umbrella term for all the file formats that represent videos. there are multiple video file formats with different file types (extensions) which all can be summarised as video file format. read it more detailed on wikipedia

but yes, if someone would ask you: "What file format is the .mp4 file type?" you could answer: "it's a video file format".