Text file facts for kids

A text file is a special kind of computer file that holds information as simple words and letters. Think of it like a digital notebook where you can write down anything using just plain text. Each line in a text file is a series of characters, like letters, numbers, and symbols, that you can see and read.

You can open and change text files using programs called text editors, such as WordPad or Notepad. These files usually contain only plain text, meaning they don't have fancy formatting like different fonts, colors, or bold text. They are perfect for simple notes, recipes, or even directions.

When you save a document using programs like Microsoft Word or OpenOffice, it's usually not a simple text file anymore. These programs add special formatting and information, making them "word processor files" or "document files" instead.

Text files often have file extensions like `.txt`, but they can also have many other extensions depending on what they are used for and the software that created them.

What is a Text File?

A text file is a basic way for computers to store written information. It's like a very simple digital document. Unlike a picture or a video file, a text file only contains characters that you can type on a keyboard. It doesn't store things like images, sounds, or special layouts.

Plain Text vs. Formatted Text

The most important thing about a text file is that it contains plain text. This means it's just the words and numbers, without any special styling. Imagine writing on a piece of paper with a pencil – that's plain text.

On the other hand, programs like Microsoft Word create files with formatted text. These files can have different fonts, bold words, italic words, colors, pictures, and more. They are much more complex than simple text files. Text files are great for sharing information that needs to be read by many different programs without any issues.

How Are Text Files Used?

Text files are very common and useful in many ways, even if you don't always notice them.

Simple Notes and Lists

One of the easiest ways to use a text file is for taking quick notes or making lists. If you just need to jot down a reminder, a shopping list, or a to-do list, a text file is perfect. It opens quickly and doesn't have any complicated features to get in the way.

Computer Code and Settings

Many computer programs and websites are actually written using text files. Programmers write their code in text files, which are then read by the computer to make the program work. Also, many computer settings and configuration files are stored as text files. This makes it easy for people to read and change these settings if needed.

Sharing Information

Text files are excellent for sharing information between different computers or programs. Because they are so simple, almost any computer can open and read a text file. You don't need a specific program like Microsoft Word to view them. This makes them a universal way to exchange written data.

How to Open and Edit Text Files

You can open and change text files using special programs called text editors. These programs are designed to work with plain text.

Common Text Editors

• Notepad (on Windows computers): This is a very basic text editor that comes with Windows. It's simple and quick to use for small text files.
• WordPad (on Windows computers): This is a slightly more advanced text editor than Notepad. It can handle some basic formatting, but it's still primarily for text.
• TextEdit (on Mac computers): This is the default text editor for macOS.
• Other text editors: There are many other text editors available, some with more features for programmers or writers, like Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text, or Notepad++.

When you open a text file in a text editor, you'll see the plain words and characters. You can type new text, delete old text, and save your changes.

File Extensions for Text Files

A file extension is a short group of letters after a dot in a file's name, like `.txt` in `notes.txt`. It tells the computer what kind of file it is.

Common Text File Extensions

While `.txt` is the most common extension for a plain text file, many other file types are also text files, even if they have different extensions. For example:

• `.html` (for web pages)
• `.css` (for website styles)
• `.js` (for JavaScript code)
• `.py` (for Python code)
• `.csv` (for data separated by commas)
• `.xml` (for structured data)

Even though these files have different extensions, they are all made of plain text and can be opened and edited with a text editor. The extension just helps the computer know how to use the information inside the file.