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format

Plain text

TXT is unformatted text, readable by every program ever written.

Also known as TXT.

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What is a Plain text file?

Raw characters with no styling, layout or embedded media — the lowest common denominator of document formats.

Technical characteristics

Representation
text
Encoding
UTF-8 (or legacy code pages)
Lossy
No
Open specification
Yes

Compatibility

  • Windowsfull
  • macOSfull
  • Linuxfull
  • Androidfull
  • iOSfull

Advantages of Plain text

  • Opens anywhere, forever
  • Tiny
  • Diff-friendly and version-control native

Limitations to know about

  • No formatting, images or structure
  • Encoding ambiguity between UTF-8 and legacy code pages

When to use Plain text

  • Notes
  • Logs
  • Data exchange
  • Long-term archiving

Convert Plain text files

Plain text scores

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

Overall score

72/100

  • Archiving score

    100
    • the specification is public, so a decoder can always be rebuilt
    • the specification is published openly
    • it is actively maintained and current
    • an openly specified format can be implemented without a licence negotiation

    Confidence 44% · evidence coverage 89%

  • Openness score

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

    Confidence 32% · evidence coverage 100%

  • Longevity score

    96
    • it is actively maintained and current
    • 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

    Confidence 49% · evidence coverage 100%

  • Printing score

    83
    • lossless data means no compression artefacts appear at print resolution
    • only a narrow set of applications handles it

    Confidence 48% · evidence coverage 50%

  • AI score

    76
    • open specifications are implemented by the open-source decoders that ML stacks rely on
    • the specification is published openly
    • large lossless payloads cost bandwidth and memory
    • only a narrow set of applications handles it

    Confidence 42% · evidence coverage 100%

  • Compatibility score

    74
    • Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS all open it without extra software
    • an open specification means cloud SDKs can implement it without licensing friction
    • it opens by double-clicking on every mainstream device
    • only a narrow set of applications handles it

    Confidence 67% · evidence coverage 75%

  • Editing score

    51
    • lossless data survives repeated open-edit-save cycles without degrading
    • only a narrow set of applications handles it

    Confidence 45% · evidence coverage 63%

  • Photography score

    50
    • lossless data survives repeated open-edit-save cycles without degrading
    • it opens by double-clicking on every mainstream device
    • it stores data losslessly, so files stay large

    Confidence 39% · evidence coverage 44%

  • Web score

    25
    • the specification is published openly
    • it stores data losslessly, so files stay large
    • large lossless payloads cost bandwidth and memory

    Confidence 31% · evidence coverage 67%

  • Streaming score

    0
    • it stores data losslessly, so files stay large
    • large lossless payloads cost bandwidth and memory

    Confidence 21% · evidence coverage 50%

  • Performance score

    0
    • large lossless payloads cost bandwidth and memory
    • it stores data losslessly, so files stay large

    Confidence 21% · evidence coverage 100%

What Plain text 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.

  • 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.

  • Long-term archiving100/100

    • Because the specification is public, so a decoder can always be rebuilt.
    • Because lossless storage preserves the original data for future migrations.
    • Because it is a current, actively maintained format.

  • Open standards100/100

    • Because the specification is published openly.

  • Licensing100/100

    • Because an openly specified format can be implemented without a licence negotiation.

  • Future-proofing100/100

    • Because it is actively maintained and current.
    • Because open specifications outlive the companies that create them.
    • Because nothing in the graph supersedes it yet.

  • Everyday consumer usage75/100

    • Because it opens by double-clicking on every mainstream device.
    • Because it is a current format that people and services still expect.

  • Popularity71/100

    • Because it sits at the centre of the format ecosystem, with many documented relationships.
    • Because every mainstream operating system handles it.
    • Because it is still current rather than being phased out.

What Plain text is not recommended for

  • Software compatibility33/100

    • Because only a narrow set of applications handles it.

  • Web suitability33/100

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

Related to Plain text

File extensions

Media types

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
1

1 classified claim 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