How do TXT and RTFcompare? 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.
Rich Text Format
RTF is a cross-platform document format that supports basic formatting like bold, italic, fonts, and colors. It's a universal middle ground between plain text and full document formats.
| Specification | TXT | RTF |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Plain Text File | Rich Text Format |
| Extension | .txt | .rtf |
| MIME type | text/plain | application/rtf |
| Category | Document | Document |
| Developer | N/A (universal standard) | Microsoft |
| Year introduced | 1960s | 1987 |
TXT and RTF serve different purposes. TXT is ideal for configuration files and logs, while RTF excels at cross-platform document sharing.
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