What is a TXT file?
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A TXT file is a standard text document that contains unformatted text. It is recognized by any text editing or word processing program and can also be processed by most other software programs.
Files that contain the .txt file extension are files that store unformatted generic text contents. These files can be created by almost any text editing or word processing application, however, the TXT file format does not support features and functions such as tables, graphics, bolding or italics.
Text files that are created in the TXT file format are structured as a series of text lines. These files are considered to be universal platform files and can be opened on almost any operating system including mobile devices.
Popular applications that save unformatted text documents with the .txt extension include Notepad and TextEdit.
TXT file open in Microsoft Notepad
TXT files are useful for storing information in plain text with no special formatting beyond basic fonts and font styles. The file is commonly used for recording notes, directions, and other similar documents that do not need to appear a certain way. If you are looking to create a document with more formatting capabilities, such as a report, newsletter, or resume, you should look to the .DOCX file, which is used by the popular Microsoft Word program.
If you have a computer running Windows, Notepad and Wordpad come bundled with the operating system (OS) and allow you to create and edit TXT files. If you have a computer running macOS (OS X), TextEdit comes bundled with the OS and is a good choice for creating and editing TXT files.
NOTE: Various hardware devices, such as smartphones and the Amazon Kindle, and web browsers, such as Chrome and Firefox, also recognize plain text files.
Common TXT FilenamesNew Text Document.txt - The default filename Microsoft Windows gives to new text documents created via the context menu (right-click on the desktop and choose New → Text Document).
README.txt - A text file commonly included with software installers that provides information about the software. Users should often read this file before using the software.