RTF (Rich Text Format)
The universal document language that carried formatted text across every platform for three decades.
| Full name | Rich Text Format |
| Extension | .rtf |
| MIME type | application/rtf |
| Developer | Microsoft (Richard Brodie, Charles Simonyi, David Luebbert) |
| Released | 1987 (with Microsoft Word 3.0 for Mac) |
| Type | Document |
| Latest spec | 1.9.1 (March 2008) |
| Encoding | Plain ASCII with backslash control words |
What is a RTF file?
RTF is a document file format created by Microsoft in 1987 to share formatted text between different word processors and operating systems. It stores text styling, fonts, colors, and layout inside a plain-text file using simple control codes. Almost every word processor ever released can read and write RTF.
RTF uses a system of control words -- plain ASCII tokens that start with a backslash -- to describe formatting like bold, italic, font size, and paragraph alignment. The file itself is readable in any text editor, though it looks cluttered with markup. Because the content is plain text rather than binary, RTF files are not prone to the corruption that affects binary formats. The format supports images, tables, and even some macros, but its strength has always been basic formatted text that travels reliably across platforms.
History
Richard Brodie, Charles Simonyi, and David Luebbert at Microsoft created RTF in 1987 as part of Microsoft Word 3.0 for Macintosh. Microsoft published the formal specification shortly after that release, and the format quickly became the standard interchange format for word processors on both Mac and Windows. Microsoft updated the spec through version 1.9.1 in March 2008, its final revision, as newer formats like DOCX took over.
How it works
An RTF file begins with a header that declares the character set and a font table, followed by a color table and style sheet. The document body consists of groups enclosed in curly braces, with control words prefixed by backslashes controlling formatting at each point in the text. Destinations like headers, footers, and footnotes sit in their own named groups. Because the entire structure is ASCII, any program that can parse plain text can read an RTF file without a special binary parser.
What it is used for
- Exchanging documents between Word, LibreOffice, and legacy word processors
- Sending formatted text through email or helpdesk systems that do not support DOCX
- Storing legal and government documents where long-term readability matters
- Embedding formatted content in desktop applications via the Windows RichEdit control
How to open it
RTF files open in Microsoft Word, LibreOffice Writer, Apple Pages, Google Docs (via upload), Notepad++, and virtually every other word processor or rich-text editor. On Windows, WordPad has built-in RTF support and opens .rtf files by default.
Pros and cons
Strengths
- Supported by nearly every word processor on every platform
- Plain-text structure makes it easy to inspect and not prone to binary corruption
- Preserves fonts, colors, bold, italic, tables, and images in a single file
- Final spec is fully public, so no vendor lock-in
Trade-offs
- Verbose markup makes files larger than equivalent DOCX or ODT documents
- No support for modern features like tracked changes, comments, or advanced styles
- Microsoft stopped updating the spec in 2008, so format is effectively frozen
- Complex documents with heavy formatting can look different across applications
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RTF FAQ
Is RTF the same as plain text?
No. RTF stores formatting information alongside the text using control words. A plain-text file has no formatting at all. You can open an RTF file in a text editor and see the raw markup, but when opened in a word processor you see styled text.
Can RTF files contain viruses?
RTF itself is a text format, but Microsoft Word's RTF parser has historically had vulnerabilities that malicious files could exploit. Keeping your word processor up to date and avoiding RTF files from unknown sources reduces the risk.
Why would I use RTF instead of DOCX?
RTF is the safer choice when you need the file to open correctly in older software, non-Microsoft word processors, or custom applications. DOCX is better for modern Office features and smaller file sizes.
Is RTF still supported in 2026?
Yes. Microsoft Word, LibreOffice, Apple Pages, and hundreds of other tools still read and write RTF. The format is frozen at spec 1.9.1 from 2008, but its wide support means it will remain readable for the foreseeable future.