While a normal text file stores only plain text RTF files can include extra information about font style formatting images and more.

What is a rich text format document. This styled text allows for the addition of formatting such as font sizes and colors bolding italics etc Plain Text. 9 Click on Word Document docx. MS Word Document DOC and Rich Text Format RTF.

Both RTF format and DOC format are developed by Microsoft for Word. Rich Text Format RTF is a file format that allows the exchange of text files between different editors. Microsoft Word macro viruses can present big security problems on the Internet.

A file with theRTF file extension is a Rich Text Format file. For example you can create a file using Microsoft Word in Windows 98 save it as an RTF file it will have a rtf file name suffix and send it to someone who uses WordPerfect 60 on Windows 31 and they will be able to open the file and read it. The Rich Text Format RTF Specification is a method of encoding formatted text and graphics for easy transfer between applications.

For a document of nothing but text an RTF Rich Text Format file will suffice. Plain text contains no formatting only line breaks and spacing. The RTF format was originally developed to make it easier to work with text documents no matter what word processor or operating system you use.

RTF is a format older than DOC. Thus its best to convert rich text to PDF to save your crucial data. If instead you need to embed graphics and tables you will be better off with PDF Portable Document Format.

The RTF format was designed from the start to be an exchangeable document format. RTF does not spread viruses. Though Microsoft stopped maintaining the format back in 2008 it was widely adopted.