How do TXT and HTMLcompare? Here's everything you need to know to choose the right format — and how to convert between them.
Plain Text File
TXT is the simplest document format — pure text with no formatting. It's universally compatible, lightweight, and readable by every operating system and text editor in existence.
HyperText Markup Language
HTML is the standard markup language for creating web pages. While primarily a web technology, HTML files are also used as a portable document format with rich formatting and multimedia support.
| Specification | TXT | HTML |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Plain Text File | HyperText Markup Language |
| Extension | .txt | .html |
| MIME type | text/plain | text/html |
| Category | Document | Document |
| Developer | N/A (universal standard) | W3C / WHATWG |
| Year introduced | 1960s | 1993 |
TXT and HTML serve different purposes. TXT is ideal for configuration files and logs, while HTML excels at web pages and email newsletters.
Need to switch formats? Convert for free with SquishConvert.