RTF and ODT explained
RTF is a plain-text markup format for styled documents. Opening one in a text editor shows readable markup, which makes it unusually durable — but it supports only basic formatting.
ODT is the OpenDocument text format, an ISO standard that works much like DOCX — a ZIP of XML — but developed openly rather than by a single vendor.
- Where RTF files come from
- Cross-application document exchange, especially from older software.
- Where ODT is used
- LibreOffice, OpenOffice and public-sector document policies.