TXT File: Definition and How to Open

By Eva Williams 10 days ago, File Formats

txt file logo

A TXT file format, also called a text file, is a simple document with only plain text. It was created in the 1960s. This is one of the most commonly used file types, as it can be opened and edited in any text-editing program. A TXT file doesn’t have any complicating formatting or design, making it easy to create and change the document.

How to Open?

Advanced: Adobe Acrobat Pro, File Viewer Plus, Right Note

Free: Notepad, WordPad, TextEdit, Gedit

Online: Jumpshare, File Helper, Aspose, Online TXT Reader

Mobile: Apple Pages, WPS Office Lite

How to Convert?

Desktop: Adobe Acrobat Pro, Microsoft Wordpad, Microsoft Word, and Apple TextEdit

Online: Adobe Acrobat Online, OnlineConvert, Zamzar, and Convertio

TXT File Format Definition

txt file saving

TXT files are simple, which means they have very small sizes, making them easy to share and store. Unlike more complex formats like DOCX or PDF, the TXT file format doesn't include extra data or professional formatting features. They are flexible and often used to store notes, scripts, log files, or configuration details—basically, any basic text information.

TXT files are easy to open and edit with many text editors and word processors on different operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux. Popular text editors for this include Notepad (Windows), TextEdit (macOS), and Vim (Linux).

You can read and edit TXT files easily with any text editor. They support different character encodings like UTF-8 and ASCII, which impact how the text is saved and shown, especially when it comes to non-English characters.

Pros
  • Small file size
  • Works on most operating systems
  • Easy to share
Cons
  • Not ideal for storing large amounts of data
  • No support for media insertions
  • Limited formatting options

Where is TXT File Format Used

Note-taking. Whether you're putting down some ideas, making to-do lists, or writing quick thoughts, TXT files offer an easy way to save them. They're often used for simple documents that don't need the advanced features of word processors like Microsoft Word or any other pricey note taking app.

Programming and software development. TXT files are often used to save code snippets, scripts, or configuration settings. Developers like them because they are simple and easy to use.

System logs. Many software programs create logs in plain text format, making it easy for developers and system administrators to check activity, errors, and other system messages. Since TXT files are simple, they can be quickly reviewed and analyzed.

Data storage and sharing. TXT file format is used to store and share text-based data, like CSV or TSV formats, which emphasize content over appearance. They are also commonly used for creating documentation, instructions, and readme files, offering users important information in a format that's simple to access.

How to Open an TXT File

how to open txt file

You can open a TXT file with any text editor or word processor. Just double-click the file, and it will open in your system's default text editor. If you want to use a different text editor, right-click on the file and choose "Open with" to select another option. Here are some ways to open a TXT file.

Professional Software

  • Adobe Acrobat. Although Adobe Acrobat is mainly known as a PDF editor, you can also open TXT files with it and turn them into PDFs. This is convenient for sharing or storing text documents as PDFs. Acrobat offers features like adding text notes, support for different platforms, and provides advanced security options.

Compatible platforms: Windows, macOS

Pricing: 14-days free trial or from $4.99/mo

  • File Viewer Plus. This is a flexible document management tool that can open, view, and edit more than 400 file types, including TXT file format. It provides basic editing features like searching and replacing text, formatting text, and editing metadata. You can also save your file in different formats, including DOCX, PDF, and ODT.

Compatible platforms: Windows

Pricing: $30/year

  • Right Note. Right Note is a note-taking program with professional features to manage text and other data. It lets you open and organize TXT files and other notes in a tree-like structure, which helps you handle lots of information easily. The software also has a great search tool that quickly finds text within your notes, even if they are in different file formats.

Compatible platforms: Windows

Pricing: 30-days free trial or from $29.95/mo

Free Alternatives

  • Notepad. This is a basic and lightweight text editor that comes with Windows. It lets you view and edit TXT files without any formatting options, making it perfect for quick note-taking and editing plain text.

Compatible platforms: Windows

Pricing: Free

  • WordPad. This is a free tool on Windows that has more features compared to Notepad. It includes basic formatting options for TXT files, like bold, italics, and font changes, so it’s better for creating text documents with formatting.

Compatible platforms: Windows

Pricing: Free

  • TextEdit is a universal text editor that comes with macOS. It works with both simple text and formatted text. It provides basic editing and formatting tools and works well with other macOS apps.

Compatible platforms: MacOS

Pricing: Free

  • Gedit is an easy-to-use text editor often found in the GNOME desktop environment. It offers syntax highlighting, basic text formatting, and plugins for extra features, making it good for both regular TXT editing and coding.

Compatible platforms: Linux

Pricing: Free

  • Apple Pages is primarily known as a word processor within the Apple ecosystem, but it also offers functionality for opening and editing TXT files. You can open a TXT file in Pages and then export it in various formats, including PDF, DOCX, and more, which is useful for sharing or further editing.

Compatible platforms: iOS

Pricing: Free

  • WPS Office Lite has a text editor that works with TXT file format. It’s a flexible tool for both simple and more complex document tasks. You can easily share TXT files using email attachments or by uploading them to Dropbox or Google Drive.

Compatible platforms: Android

Pricing: Free

  • Google Chrome Text.  Google Chrome is mainly a web browser, but it can also be used to view TXT files. You can use Google Chrome’s built-in features or extensions to open TXT files. On Chrome OS, you can open a TXT file with the built-in app called Google Chrome Text by clicking the Open button.

Compatible platforms: Chrome OS

Pricing: Free

Online Tools

  • Jumpshare makes it easy to view TXT files with its simple and easy-to-use interface. You can just drag and drop your text files to upload and see them online. The viewer is simple, giving you quick access to the content of your file.

Pricing: Free (up to 2 GB of space) or from $8.25/mo

  • File Helper is a handy online tool that lets you view TXT files and other types of files. It’s easy to use, and it lets you upload files directly from your computer and view them in a simple format.

Pricing: Free

  • Aspose lets you open TXT files quickly in your browser without installing any software. The TXT file is processed and displayed online using Aspose Cloud apps. You can view your TXT files on your phone, tablet, or laptop from anywhere.

Pricing: Free (limited file processing) or from $4/mo

  • Online TXT Reader is designed to be very simple, with a clean and easy-to-use interface. All you need to do is open it online, and you can easily read your TXT file format. The system automatically uploads your file, so the content appears as soon as it's ready.

Pricing: Free

How to Create TXT File

There is no need for you to get any software to be able to create files in TXT file format on your computer. You can easily make and edit them using basic tools like Notepad (Windows), TextEdit (macOS), and Gedit (Linux), or even a word processor like Microsoft Word.

Create TXT Files on Windows:

  1. Right-click on an empty space and select New > Text Document.
  2. Type your text and press Ctrl+S to save the file.
  3. Rename the file if needed and press Enter twice to open it.

Create TXT Files on macOS:

  1. Open the TextEdit app.
  2. Go to the File menu and choose New to start a new TXT file.
  3. Type your text and select File > Save to save the file.

How to Convert an TXT File

how to convert txt file

Many programs, such as Microsoft Wordpad, Microsoft Word, and Apple TextEdit, can change the TXT file format into DOCX, ODT, RTF, or PDF. Some well-known online file converter software include OnlineConvert, Zamzar, and Convertio.

I prefer using Adobe Acrobat Pro to convert my TXT files into PDFs.

  1. Open Adobe Acrobat Pro.
  2. Go to File > PDF to File or Create PDF.
  3. Choose the file you want to convert from the pop-up box.
  4. Click Open to begin the conversion process.
  5. Make sure to save your new PDF.

Alternatively, you can use a website to PDF converter, such as Adobe Acrobat Online.

  1. Log in with your Adobe account.
  2. Drag and drop your TXT file into the converter or use the Select a File option to find it on your device.
  3. Follow the instructions on the screen to begin the conversion.
  4. Download and save your new PDF file when it's done.

TXT File: FAQ

  • • What is the maximum size of a TXT file?

The size of a TXT file depends on your file system and operating system. Usually, it's limited by the amount of free disk space you have. Some older systems might limit the file size to 2 GB or less.

  • • What is the difference between a TXT file and a database?

A TXT file format is a simple format that only holds plain text. A database, on the other hand, is a more advanced system that stores and manages data with features like searching, sorting, and managing large amounts of information.

  • • Can a TXT file have images or other media?

No, the TXT file format can only hold plain text. To include images or other media, you need to use a different file format, like PDF or HTML.

  • • What is the difference between PDF and TXT files?

PDF files can include text, images, and a lot of formatting options. TXT files only contain text and have basic formatting. While both types of files work on various devices and systems, TXT files are much simpler. If you need to, you can easily convert a TXT file to a PDF using Adobe Acrobat's online tool.

  • • What is the difference between DOC and TXT?

A TXT file format only has text with letters, numbers, and symbols. A DOC file has styled text, colors, images, and links for videos and emails.

  • • How does a TXT file store information?

TXT files store data as a series of characters. Each character is saved as one or two bytes in computer memory. The text is usually arranged in rows, with each row having several pieces of information.

  • • How can I search for text within a TXT file?

To search for text in a TXT file, you can use a text editor's search feature or a command-line tool like grep. In a text editor, press Ctrl+F or Cmd+F to open the search box. With grep, type the command `grep "search term" filename.txt` to find the text you're looking for.

  • • What are some popular alternatives to the TXT format?

As text files have evolved, formats like PDF, DOCX, and RTF have become popular because they offer more formatting options and can include media.

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