What is the file extension .rtf stands for? What are the benefits of using .rtf files?

File extension .rtf stands for Rich Text Format.

Most word processors are able to read and write RTF documents, like Microsoft Word, Microsoft WordPad, AppleWorks, Corel WordPerfect, ...

Benefits of using .rtf files are:

• Widely Readable - All major word processors and many other types of programs can read RTF text.
• Preserves Basic Formatting - Font information and text styling selections are preserved in RTF.
• Offers Security Advantages - RTF is a more trustworthy format than .DOC, and it doesn't leave an "edit trail."
• Smaller File Size - Because it doesn't save document history data, an RTF file is smaller and therefore easier to send as an email attachment.

.rtf files text files. If you one in a text editor, you should see something like this:

{\rtf1\adeflang1025\ansi\ansicpg1252\uc1\adeff31507\deff0\stshfdbch315
06\stshfloch31506\stshfhich31506\stshfbi31507\deflang1033\deflangfe103
3\themelang1033\themelangfe0\themelangcs0{\fonttbl{\f0\fbidi
\froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 02020603050405020304}Times New
Roman;}{\f1\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose
020b0604020202020204}Arial;}
{\f34\fbidi \froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose
02040503050406030204}Cambria Math;}{\f37\fbidi
\fswiss\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose
020f0502020204030204}Calibri;}{\f38\fbidi
\fswiss\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 020b0604030504040204}Tahoma;}
{\flomajor\f31500\fbidi \froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose
02020603050405020304}Times New Roman;}{\fdbmajor\f31501\fbidi
\froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 02020603050405020304}Times New
Roman;}
{\fhimajor\f31502\fbidi \froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose
02040503050406030204}Cambria;}{\fbimajor\f31503\fbidi
\froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 02020603050405020304}Times New
Roman;}
{\flominor\f31504\fbidi \froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose
02020603050405020304}Times New Roman;}{\fdbminor\f31505\fbidi
\froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 02020603050405020304}Times New
Roman;}
...

⇒ Convert Word Documents to XML Files

⇐ Convert Word Documents to RTF Files

⇑ Converting Microsoft Word to/from Other Format

⇑⇑ MS Word - Frequently Asked Questions