What Plain Text Contains
Plain text files contain only readable characters from the keyboard. This includes uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, spaces, and punctuation marks like periods, commas, and question marks. There are no hidden codes for styling, colors, or special formatting hidden inside the file. What you see is exactly what is stored.
How It Differs From Formatted Text
Formatted text files, like those created in Microsoft Word or Google Docs, contain extra invisible codes that store information about fonts, sizes, colors, and bold or italic styling. When you save a document as plain text, all that formatting information is removed, leaving only the words themselves. This makes plain text much simpler but less visually interesting.
Common Uses
Plain text is used for many purposes. Programmers write computer code in plain text files. System administrators use plain text for configuration files and logs. Writers sometimes use plain text to focus on words without distractions. Email was originally plain text, and many people still prefer plain text emails to avoid compatibility issues.
Advantages
Plain text files are extremely reliable because they work on any device or operating system, whether you use Windows, Mac, or Linux. They load and save instantly because they contain no extra data. These files are also secure since they cannot contain viruses or malware hidden in formatting codes. Additionally, plain text files remain readable even if the software that created them becomes outdated.
How to Create Plain Text
You can create a plain text file using simple programs that come with every computer. On Windows, use Notepad. On Mac, use TextEdit set to plain text mode. On smartphones, many basic note-taking apps create plain text. You can also save any document as plain text by choosing that option when saving.