RTF
Technology & Computing abbreviation · File Format
| Stands for | Rich Text Format |
|---|---|
| Categories | Technology & Computing |
RTF stands for Rich Text Format, a file format abbreviation.
Microsoft document format that stores text with basic formatting, such as fonts, bold, colors and tables, in a readable markup of control words, for exchanging documents between word processors.
Example: TextEdit saves new documents as RTF unless you switch to plain text.
Usage notes
Microsoft introduced RTF in 1987, and its last specification, version 1.9.1, dates from 2008. Windows WordPad used RTF as its default format until Microsoft removed WordPad from Windows 11 in 2024. Apple's TextEdit still defaults to RTF. Because RTF parsers have had security flaws, RTF attachments have been used to deliver malware.
Related abbreviations
More file format abbreviations
- PPTX – Office Open XML presentation
- PS – PostScript
- PSD – Photoshop Document
- PST – Personal Storage Table
- RAR – Roshal Archive
- RAW – Camera raw image
- SRT – SubRip Text
- STEP – Standard for the Exchange of Product model data
- STL – Stereolithography
- SVG – Scalable Vector Graphics
- SWF – Small Web Format
- TAR – Tape archive