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.RTF·File Extension

Rich Text Document — Cross-platform rich text format from Microsoft.

Data & Textapplication/rtfCompressible

Quick facts

Extension.rtf
File typeRich Text Document
MIME typeapplication/rtf
CategoryData & Text
Charset—
CompressibleYes
Format familyrtf

What is .rtf

What is a .rtf file?

A .rtf file is a Rich Text Document — Cross-platform rich text format from Microsoft.

In the mime-db registry it maps to application/rtf, and it is marked as compressible. When serving .rtf over HTTP, set the Content-Type header as shown in Developer info below.

Related entities: it maps to application/rtf and is used by Rich Text Format among others — and is delivered over HTTP via the Content-Type header.

How to open .rtf files

  • Use WordPad or Microsoft Word to open and edit .rtf files.
  • Any text editor (Notepad, VS Code) can inspect the raw content as text.

Developer info

When served over HTTP, responses should set the following header:

Content-Type: application/rtf

Common software that reads/writes .rtf:

WordPadMicrosoft WordTextEdit

Relation chain

.rtfextension of
format
rtfserved as
mime type
application/rtfsent via header
http header
Content-Type

Related extensions

.123
123 Data & Text
.1km
1KM Data & Text
.3dml
3DML Data & Text
.aab
AAB Data & Text

Related MIME types

application/rtf
.rtf
text/rtf
.rtf

Related programming languages

Rich Text Format
.rtf

Common uses

  • Configuration files
  • Data interchange between systems
  • API request and response payloads
  • Logs and data exports

How to edit .rtf files

  • Open the file with WordPad, make your changes and save.
  • Most editors preserve the original formatting and encoding — avoid changing the charset.

How to create .rtf files

  • Create a new file and save it with the .rtf extension, or export this format from WordPad.

Frequently asked questions

What programs can open .rtf files?

Common options include WordPad, Microsoft Word, TextEdit. You can also open many of these files with built-in viewers or a browser.

How do I create a .rtf file?

Create a new file in any text editor or the app that owns the format and save it with the .rtf extension.

What is the relationship between .rtf and the application/rtf MIME type?

application/rtf is the media type identifier used for .rtf files during network transfer (for example in the HTTP Content-Type header).

Sources & standards

Updated 2026-09-13

Explore this reference

Related extensions

.123
123 Data & Text
.1km
1KM Data & Text
.3dml
3DML Data & Text
.aab
AAB Data & Text

Related MIME types

application/rtf
.rtf
text/rtf
.rtf

Related programming languages

Rich Text Format
.rtf

Related headers

Content-Type
HTTP header
Accept
HTTP header

Related methods

GET
HTTP method
POST
HTTP method
PUT
HTTP method
PATCH
HTTP method

Related status codes

200
OK
404
Not Found

about this tool

About This Tool

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