.article — Plain Text Article File
Various · 1980s
An .article file is a basic plain text document designed for simple text content, readable by any text editor.
Key Features
- Universally compatible with text editors
- Extremely small file size
- No complex formatting or embedded objects
- Human-readable and easily editable
Best For
- Plain text content distribution
- Cross-platform text compatibility
- Simple data logging
- Source files for conversion to richer formats
Less Ideal For
- Documents requiring rich formatting (fonts, colors, layouts)
- Presenting visual information like images or charts
- Creating interactive documents or web pages
- Storing structured data that benefits from specific encoding
Common Use Cases
- Storing raw articles or blog post drafts
- Creating simple read-me files
- Distributing plain text notes or instructions
- Configuration files in some older systems
How to Open It
- Double-click on Windows or macOS to open with the default text editor (Notepad, TextEdit).
- Open from within any text editor application like VS Code, Sublime Text, or Notepad++ by selecting 'File > Open'.
- On Linux, use command-line editors like `nano` or `vim`, or graphical editors like Gedit.
What is a .article file?
An .article file is essentially a plain text document, often used for storing articles, notes, or simple text-based content. Because it's plain text, it lacks formatting like bold, italics, or images, making it universally compatible. This simplicity ensures that the content can be read and edited by virtually any text editor or word processing software across different operating systems. Its primary strength lies in its straightforwardness and widespread accessibility.
Programs That Open .article Files
| Platform | Program | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows | Notepad | Free | Official |
| Notepad++ | Free | ||
| Visual Studio Code | Free | ||
| macOS | TextEdit | Free | Official |
| Visual Studio Code | Free | ||
| Linux | Gedit | Free | Official |
| Nano | Free | Official | |
| Vim | Free | Official | |
| Android | Google Keep | Free | |
| QuickEdit Text Editor | Free | ||
| iOS | Notes | Free | Official |
| Textastic | Paid | ||
| Web Browser | Google Docs | Free | |
| Online Text Editors (e.g., CodePen, JSFiddle) | Free |
How to Convert .article Files
| Format | Method |
|---|---|
| .HTML | Manual editing in a text editor, Using a markdown converter |
| .RTF | Opening in a word processor and saving as RTF |
| Opening in a word processor and saving/printing as PDF |
Common Problems with .article Files
Frequently Asked Questions
There is virtually no technical difference. '.article' is simply a less common, descriptive extension for a plain text file, akin to '.txt'.
Yes, you can store plain text code snippets. However, for actual code development, using extensions like .py, .js, or .java is recommended for syntax highlighting and better integration with development tools.
Not directly. While you can save text content in an .article file, web content typically requires HTML (.html) for structure and presentation.
Technical Details
This file format relies on simple character encoding, typically ASCII or UTF-8, to represent text. It contains no metadata or special formatting instructions, meaning it's purely a sequence of characters. The file structure is linear, containing only the text content from beginning to end.