.rtf File Extension
.rtf file is, which apps open Rich Text Format documents, how Poly supports them, and when to convert them. File extension details for .rtf
Partial Support| File type | Rich Text Format document |
|---|---|
| MIME type | |
| Encoding | Structured text with backslash control words; may contain 8-bit characters and binary picture data |
| Operating systems | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Opens with | Microsoft Word, Apple TextEdit, LibreOffice Writer |
| Poly support | Partial. Poly recognizes .rtf files and provides source-level text features, without interpreting RTF formatting or embedded objects. |
| Indexed by Poly | Partial. Poly indexes raw text and control words for full-text and semantic search, not the rendered document structure. |
| Preview in Poly | Partial. .rtf opens in the text editor as RTF source, without a formatted page preview or thumbnail. |
| Poly agent | Partial. The Poly agent can read and edit RTF source, but does not render or fully interpret the document model. |
What kind of file is a .rtf?
An .rtf file is a Rich Text Format document. Microsoft created RTF for exchanging formatted text between word processors and operating systems. It can preserve fonts, emphasis, paragraphs, tables, page layout, pictures, comments, and tracked changes.1
RTF looks like text, but its visible words are mixed with braces, backslash control words, escaped characters, and sometimes binary data. A conforming file begins with the five ASCII characters {\rtf, or 7B 5C 72 74 66 in hexadecimal. A typical header starts {\rtf1.2
IANA registers both text/rtf and application/rtf for this extension. The two labels describe the same format family, although software may handle them differently.23
.rtf does not convert it. Check the {\rtf signature when a file's identity matters.How do I open a .rtf on my computer?
- On Windows, use Microsoft Word or LibreOffice Writer. Word lists RTF as a supported text format.4
- On macOS, TextEdit opens, edits, and converts rich-text documents. Microsoft Word and LibreOffice Writer also work.5
- On Linux, LibreOffice Writer is a common choice.
A code editor can inspect the source, but it will show formatting commands instead of a laid-out document. Web browsers generally download RTF rather than render it as a formatted page.
Poly support for .rtf
Poly infers an .rtf filename as text/rtf. It opens the file in the text editor and makes the source available to full-text search, semantic search, and the Poly agent. This is useful for finding or inspecting content, but it is not a word-processor preview.
Control words, font names, fallback characters, and metadata may appear in search results. Poly does not render styles, create a document thumbnail, interpret embedded objects, or build a page model. A file explicitly supplied as application/rtf is stored and searchable by name, but its contents are not indexed.
History of .rtf
Microsoft described an early RTF in March 1987 and published RTF 1.0 in 1992. The format evolved with Word until RTF 1.9.1, released for Word 2007 in March 2008.1 Its design let older readers ignore unfamiliar optional groups, which made RTF useful for moving documents between different applications and generations of software.
RTF remains widely readable, but it is no longer extended for newer Word features. Complex layouts, fields, drawings, and tracked changes can vary between applications or lose detail during a round trip.1
Working with .rtf and alternatives
Choose a conversion target based on what must survive:
| Format | Best for | Main tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| DOCX | Continued editing | Application-specific features may still change |
| Fixed layout and dependable preview | Harder to edit | |
| ODT | Open document workflows | Complex Word formatting may differ |
| Plain text | Readable words only | Formatting, images, and annotations are lost |
Convert with an RTF-aware word processor, then reopen the result and check fonts, tables, page breaks, pictures, comments, and non-ASCII characters. Keep the original until that review is complete.
RTF has no built-in integrity or confidentiality. It can reference external files and objects, so open unexpected attachments with maintained software and avoid loading untrusted external content.2
Footnotes
- Library of Congress. Rich Text Format (RTF) Family. The format description covers RTF history, versions, structure, adoption, and interoperability. ↩ ↩2 ↩3
- Internet Assigned Numbers Authority.
application/rtfMedia Type Registration. The registration documents the signature, extension, encoding considerations, and security notes. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 - Internet Assigned Numbers Authority.
text/rtfMedia Type Registration. The historical registration is dated June 1993. ↩ - Microsoft. File Format Reference for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Microsoft lists Rich Text Format as a Word-supported format. ↩
- Apple. Create, Open, and Convert Documents in TextEdit on Mac. Apple documents opening, saving, and converting rich-text documents. ↩