Specifying the application that automatically opens a particular kind of document on macOS is a fundamental aspect of system customization. For instance, a user might prefer all images with a “.jpg” extension to open in Adobe Photoshop rather than the default Preview application. This configuration controls the workflow for interacting with various data formats.
The ability to associate files with specific programs enhances efficiency and user experience. Prior to operating systems providing this functionality, users were often required to manually select an application each time they wished to open a document. The implementation of default application associations streamlines this process and optimizes productivity.
