RTF file format
RTF is a formatted document written in plain text. Any word processor since the 1980s can open it, and unlike DOC it cannot carry macros.
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What is RTF?
Microsoft published Rich Text Format in 1987 as a way to move formatted documents between applications and platforms. Its trick is that the file is entirely readable text: open one in Notepad and you will see your words surrounded by control words like `\b` for bold and `\i` for italic. Nothing is binary, nothing is hidden.
That transparency gives RTF its two lasting advantages. It opens in essentially every word processor ever written, and it cannot execute anything — there is no macro layer, which is why some organisations and legal workflows still require documents to be submitted as RTF rather than DOC or DOCX.
The cost is size and capability. Images are embedded as hexadecimal text, which roughly doubles their weight, so an illustrated RTF balloons compared to the same document as DOCX. It also lacks modern features: no proper style hierarchy, limited table control, no tracked changes worth relying on.
| Extension | .rtf |
|---|---|
| Category | Document |
| MIME type | application/rtf |
| Released | 1987 |
| Developed by | Microsoft |
| Compression | None (uncompressed) |
RTF: frequently asked questions
- What is RTF actually for?
- Moving formatted text between different programs and platforms without compatibility problems. It keeps bold, italics, fonts, colours, lists and basic tables while staying readable by everything, which makes it a safe lowest common denominator.
- Is RTF safer than DOC or DOCX?
- In one specific way, yes: the format has no macro layer, so an RTF cannot run code the way a macro-enabled document can. That is why some courts, agencies and submission systems specifically ask for RTF. It is not immune to every exploit, but it removes the obvious one.
- Why is my RTF file so large?
- Because images are stored as hexadecimal text rather than binary, which roughly doubles their size, and nothing in the file is compressed. A document with a few photographs can be several times larger as RTF than the same content saved as DOCX.
- RTF or DOCX — which should I use?
- DOCX for normal work: smaller, richer and better supported by modern tools. RTF when a recipient or system explicitly requires it, when you need maximum compatibility with very old software, or when macros must be impossible by design.
- What can open an RTF file?
- Practically everything: Word, LibreOffice Writer, Google Docs, Apple Pages, WordPad, TextEdit and most mobile office apps. Even a plain text editor will show the content, though wrapped in visible formatting codes.
- Does RTF keep images and tables?
- Yes, both. Images are embedded directly in the file and simple tables survive intact. Complex layouts, advanced table properties and modern styling features are where RTF starts to fall short compared with DOCX.