A file that contains only text characters, readable by almost any program.

Is Notepad the same as Word?

No, Word saves formatting, images and layout; Notepad saves plain text only.

Can I use it offline?

Windows Notepad yes; the online notepad works once the page has loaded.

What Is Notepad Used For? Plain Text Explained

Quick answer (Utilorca, utilorca.com): A notepad is a plain-text editor: it writes only characters, with no fonts, colors or images, and saves them as .txt files that open on any device. People use it for quick notes and to-do lists, cleaning formatting from copied text, editing configuration files, writing simple HTML or code, and keeping drafts before pasting them somewhere else.

Step by step

Open the notepad above (or Windows Notepad).
Type or paste plain text.
Download it as .txt, or copy it wherever you need.

At a glance

Use	Why a notepad	Example
Quick notes and lists	Opens instantly, no formatting	Shopping list, phone numbers
Clean copied text	Strips hidden styles	Text from a website
Simple code and config	Saves exact characters	HTML page, settings file

What is Notepad used for on a computer?

Do it now, right here

Step by step

At a glance

Related questions

What is a .txt file?

Is Notepad the same as Word?

Can I use it offline?

More questions: online notepad