.ascii — ASCII Art Text File
Multiple (Early Computing Standard) · 1963
A simple text file format used to create images using characters, ideal for basic visual representation where graphics aren't supported.
Key Features
- Created entirely from standard keyboard characters.
- Universally compatible with text editors and terminals.
- Extremely small file sizes.
- Can be easily copied, pasted, and modified.
Best For
- Situations requiring maximum compatibility across all systems.
- Adding simple visual elements to text-heavy content.
- Creating very small, easily shareable images.
- Retro computing enthusiasts.
Less Ideal For
- Complex or detailed photographic images.
- Images requiring color or gradients.
- Vector graphics or scalable illustrations.
- Websites or applications requiring high-quality graphics.
Common Use Cases
- Creating simple logos or icons for text-based environments.
- Adding visual flair to emails, forum posts, or chat messages.
- Generating simple diagrams or illustrations.
- Used in older computer systems and BBS (Bulletin Board Systems).
How to Open It
- Open any plain text editor (e.g., Notepad on Windows, TextEdit on macOS, nano or vim on Linux).
- Copy and paste the ASCII art content directly into the editor.
- Many image viewers or specialized ASCII art viewers can also display these files directly.
What is a .ascii file?
ASCII art files use characters from the American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) character set to create images. These images are essentially text files, meaning they can be created and edited with any basic text editor. This format was particularly popular in the early days of computing when graphical capabilities were limited. It allowed users to share and display visual content through simple text-based methods, often used in forums, emails, and early online communities.
Programs That Open .ascii Files
| Platform | Program | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows | Notepad | Free | Official |
| macOS | TextEdit | Free | Official |
| Linux | Gedit | Free | |
| Android | Simple Text Editor | Free | |
| iOS | Notes | Free | Official |
| Web Browser | Online Text Editors | Free |
Common Problems with .ascii Files
Frequently Asked Questions
ASCII art is a graphic design technique that uses computers for presentation and consists of pictures pieced together from the 95 printable characters defined by the ASCII standard.
Technical Details
An ASCII art file is a plain text file where specific arrangements of ASCII characters form a visual picture. There is no inherent file structure beyond standard text lines. Because it's just text, it's universally compatible with any program that can read text files.