Plain Text File — Unformatted text file readable by any text editor.
Quick facts
What is .txt
A .txt file is a Plain Text File — Unformatted text file readable by any text editor.
In the mime-db registry it maps to text/plain, and it is marked as compressible. When serving .txt over HTTP, set the Content-Type header as shown in Developer info below.
Related entities: it maps to text/plain and is used by Adblock Filter List, Text among others — and is delivered over HTTP via the Content-Type header.
How to open .txt files
Developer info
When served over HTTP, responses should set the following header:
Content-Type: text/plain
Common software that reads/writes .txt:
Relation chain
Related extensions
Related MIME types
Related programming languages
Common uses
How to edit .txt files
How to create .txt files
Frequently asked questions
Common options include Notepad, VS Code, TextEdit. You can also open many of these files with built-in viewers or a browser.
Create a new file in any text editor or the app that owns the format and save it with the .txt extension.
text/plain is the media type identifier used for .txt files during network transfer (for example in the HTTP Content-Type header).
Sources & standards
Updated 2026-08-18
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