Rich Text Format
Rich Text Format (RTF) is a proprietary document file format developed by Microsoft in 1987 for cross-platform document interchange. It encodes text and formatting information (such as fonts, styles, and images) in a plain text format using control words and symbols, making it readable by many word processors. RTF is widely used for transferring formatted text between different applications and operating systems, though it has largely been superseded by more modern formats like DOCX and PDF.
Developers should learn RTF when working with legacy systems, document conversion tools, or applications that require basic formatted text interchange without complex layout features. It is useful for generating simple reports, exporting data to word processors, or handling documents in environments where compatibility with older software is necessary. However, for modern applications, alternatives like HTML, Markdown, or PDF are generally preferred due to better support and features.