Plain text facts for kids

Plain text is like the simplest form of writing on a computer. Imagine writing a note with just a pencil – no fancy colors, no bold letters, no different fonts. That's what plain text is! It only shows the basic letters, numbers, and symbols.

It's called "plain" because it doesn't have any special styles or formatting commands. You can't make words italic or bold directly in plain text. It's usually saved in a very simple computer file called a plain text file.

What is Plain Text?

Plain text is made up of basic characters. These are the letters, numbers, and symbols you see on your keyboard. When you type something in a simple program like Notepad on Windows or TextEdit on a Mac (if you save it as plain text), you're creating plain text.

Why is it "Plain"?

The main thing about plain text is that it doesn't include any hidden codes for styling. For example, if you use a word processor like Microsoft Word, you can change the font, make text bigger, or add colors. These changes are saved as special codes along with your words. Plain text doesn't have any of those codes. It's just the words themselves.

Where Do We Use Plain Text?

Even though it's simple, plain text is super important!

• Computer code: Many computer programs are written in plain text files. This makes them easy for programmers to read and edit.
• Configuration files: These are files that tell computer programs how to work. They are often in plain text so they can be easily changed.
• Simple notes: If you just need to jot down a quick note without any fuss, plain text is perfect.
• Emails: When you send a basic email, it's often sent as plain text. This makes sure everyone can read it, no matter what email program they use.

Because plain text is so simple, almost any computer or device can open and read it. It's like a universal language for words!

Images for kids

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  Text file of The Human Side of Animals by Royal Dixon, shown in a computer window.

See also

In Spanish: Archivo de texto para niños