File extension
.rtf
Rich Text File Format v1.5 (MS Word)
.rtf files are Rich Text Format documents: a plain-text document interchange format from Microsoft that encodes formatted text, images, and objects using backslash control words, readable across many word processors.
Known meanings
Formats and reference material for .rtf
Details
Format notes
Rich Text Format (RTF)
RTF is a document interchange format introduced by Microsoft so formatted text
could move between different word processors and platforms. Unlike the binary
.doc format, an RTF file is plain ASCII text: formatting is expressed with
control words beginning with a backslash (such as \b for bold or \par for a
paragraph break) and grouping braces { and }. A file starts with the
signature {\rtf1, and non-ASCII characters are encoded with escapes, keeping
the file 7-bit safe.
Beyond basic character and paragraph formatting, RTF can carry fonts and color tables, tables, styles, headers and footers, fields, embedded images, and OLE objects. Because it is text-based and widely implemented, it has long served as a “lowest common denominator” for exchanging formatted documents and as a clipboard format for rich text.
Compatibility Notes
The RTF specification evolved through numbered versions, and applications
implement different subsets, so a document may render slightly differently or
lose advanced features when opened in another program. For maximum
interoperability, RTF exports tend to favor widely supported control words over
newer or vendor-specific extensions. The common media type is application/rtf
(also text/rtf).
Security Notes
Although the outer format is readable text, RTF can embed OLE objects and linked content, and historically RTF files have been used as a vector for exploits that target the parser or embedded object handlers. Treat RTF from untrusted sources as active content: disable automatic object activation and use an up-to-date, hardened reader.
Further Reading
- Rich Text Format overview:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rich_Text_Format