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format · legacy

RTF

RTF is a plain-text markup for formatted documents readable by nearly every word processor.

Also known as Rich Text Format.

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What is a RTF file?

A text-based document format with control words for fonts, styles and tables, designed for interchange between word processors.

Technical characteristics

Representation
text
Lossy
No
Open specification
Yes

History and origin

Introduced
1987
Created by
Microsoft

Compatibility

  • Windowsfull
  • macOSfull
  • Linuxfull

Applications: Word, WordPad, TextEdit, LibreOffice.

Advantages of RTF

  • Formatted text that almost any editor can open
  • Human-inspectable

Limitations to know about

  • Superseded by DOCX
  • Large files, weak support for modern layout

When to use RTF

  • Legacy document interchange
  • Clipboard rich text

Convert RTF files

RTF scores

Deterministic scores calculated from the structured facts above. Identical facts always produce identical scores.

Overall score

74/100

  • Printing score

    100
    • lossless data means no compression artefacts appear at print resolution
    • a broad range of applications read and write it

    Confidence 48% · evidence coverage 50%

  • Editing score

    100
    • lossless data survives repeated open-edit-save cycles without degrading
    • a broad range of applications read and write it

    Confidence 45% · evidence coverage 63%

  • Openness score

    100
    • the specification is published openly
    • an openly specified format can be implemented without a licence negotiation

    Confidence 47% · evidence coverage 100%

  • AI score

    92
    • open specifications are implemented by the open-source decoders that ML stacks rely on
    • the specification is published openly
    • a broad range of applications read and write it
    • large lossless payloads cost bandwidth and memory

    Confidence 46% · evidence coverage 100%

  • Compatibility score

    92
    • Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS all open it without extra software
    • a broad range of applications read and write it
    • an open specification means cloud SDKs can implement it without licensing friction

    Confidence 61% · evidence coverage 75%

  • Archiving score

    69
    • the specification is public, so a decoder can always be rebuilt
    • the specification is published openly
    • an openly specified format can be implemented without a licence negotiation
    • it is marked legacy or deprecated in the knowledge graph

    Confidence 60% · evidence coverage 89%

  • Photography score

    63
    • lossless data survives repeated open-edit-save cycles without degrading
    • it stores data losslessly, so files stay large

    Confidence 44% · evidence coverage 44%

  • Longevity score

    62
    • the specification is published openly
    • the specification is public, so a decoder can always be rebuilt
    • it sits at the centre of the format ecosystem, with many documented relationships
    • it is marked legacy or deprecated in the knowledge graph

    Confidence 59% · evidence coverage 100%

  • Web score

    36
    • the specification is published openly
    • it stores data losslessly, so files stay large
    • large lossless payloads cost bandwidth and memory

    Confidence 43% · evidence coverage 67%

  • Performance score

    26
    • it stores data losslessly, so files stay large
    • large lossless payloads cost bandwidth and memory

    Confidence 47% · evidence coverage 100%

  • Streaming score

    22
    • it stores data losslessly, so files stay large
    • large lossless payloads cost bandwidth and memory

    Confidence 47% · evidence coverage 50%

What RTF is recommended for

Every conclusion below is derived from the structured facts on this page — nothing is written by hand.

  • Operating system compatibility100/100

    • Because Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS all open it without extra software.
    • Because most platforms handle it natively.

  • Software compatibility100/100

    • Because a broad range of applications read and write it.
    • Because several mainstream applications support it.

  • Printing suitability100/100

    • Because lossless data means no compression artefacts appear at print resolution.
    • Because it is a page-description format built around fixed layout.

  • Cloud compatibility100/100

    • Because an open specification means cloud SDKs can implement it without licensing friction.
    • Because it converts into many other formats, which suits automated pipelines.

  • AI compatibility100/100

    • Because open specifications are implemented by the open-source decoders that ML stacks rely on.
    • Because lossless pixels avoid compression artefacts leaking into training data.
    • Because wide library support means common data loaders can read it.

  • Professional editing100/100

    • Because lossless data survives repeated open-edit-save cycles without degrading.
    • Because professional applications read and write it.

  • Open standards100/100

    • Because the specification is published openly.

  • Licensing100/100

    • Because an openly specified format can be implemented without a licence negotiation.
    • Because the core patents are old enough to have expired.

  • Popularity86/100

    • Because it sits at the centre of the format ecosystem, with many documented relationships.
    • Because mainstream applications ship support for it.
    • Because every mainstream operating system handles it.

What RTF is not recommended for

  • Compression efficiency0/100

    • Because it stores data losslessly, so files stay large.
    • Because its codec generation predates modern entropy coding and block partitioning.

  • Future-proofing25/100

    • Because it is marked legacy or deprecated in the knowledge graph.
    • Because a successor format already exists and is taking over its use cases.
    • Because it does not satisfy: it is a modern design rather than a legacy carry-over.

  • Web suitability33/100

    • Because lossless payloads cost more bandwidth than the web usually justifies.

Successors and legacy considerations

Superseded by: DOCX.

The knowledge graph marks RTF as legacy, so expect shrinking tooling support over time.

DOCX supersedes it in new work.

Related to RTF

File extensions

Alternatives

Created by

Succeeds

Data quality

Every claim on this page is classified as a verified fact, a derived fact or an assumption.

Overall confidence
80%
Verification status
verified
Last reviewed
2026-08-03
Verified facts
2

2 classified claims backed by 1 source.

  • Convert Always editorial review — Convert Always

Sources and review status

Review status: verified · confidence 80%

Last reviewed 2026-08-03 (revision 1).

  • Convert Always editorial review — Convert Always