Formatting written in the open
Unlike a binary document, an RTF file stores its formatting as readable control words embedded in the text, each beginning with a backslash. A bold passage, a font change or a paragraph break is spelled out as a tagged instruction rather than hidden in a binary structure. This made RTF a lingua franca for moving formatted documents between different programs and platforms at a time when every word processor had its own incompatible native format. The trade-off is that the format is verbose and was only ever designed for fairly basic formatting.
A format gently retired
For years RTF was the safe choice when you needed a formatted document that would open anywhere, and it still fills that role well for straightforward text. But it was never built for the rich features modern documents expect — sophisticated tables, tracked changes, embedded media and precise layout — and Microsoft’s own DOCX, an open and far more capable format, has largely taken over. Microsoft stopped actively developing the RTF specification well over a decade ago. RTF endures today mainly as a dependable, low-common-denominator exchange format rather than a format you would choose for new work.
Strengths
- Opens in virtually every word processor on every platform, past and present.
- Preserves basic formatting — fonts, emphasis, colour — that plain text cannot.
- Plain-text underneath, so it is relatively transparent and resistant to corruption.
- A safe lowest-common-denominator when you do not know what software the recipient has.
Limitations
- Limited feature set compared with DOCX or ODT — no rich modern document features.
- Files are notably larger than the plain text they contain, thanks to verbose markup.
- Largely superseded and no longer actively developed by Microsoft.
- Complex documents may render inconsistently between different applications.
When to use RTF
Use RTF when you need lightly formatted text to open reliably in an unknown word processor, and the document is simple enough not to need DOCX’s richer features.
RTF FAQ
- What can open an RTF file?
- Almost anything — Microsoft Word, LibreOffice Writer, Apple Pages, Google Docs and even the basic editors bundled with Windows and macOS all read RTF. That near-universal support is the whole point of the format.
- Is RTF the same as a Word document?
- No. RTF is an older, simpler exchange format that carries only basic formatting, whereas DOCX is Microsoft’s modern format with far richer features. DOCX has largely replaced RTF for everyday work.
- Should I still use RTF today?
- Only when broad compatibility outweighs features and the document is simple. For most new work DOCX or ODT is a better choice, and Morphr can convert between these formats in the browser if you receive an RTF you would rather not keep.