A text file is a type of computer file that contains plain text, which means it is made up of readable characters without any special formatting. These files typically have extensions like .txt, .csv, or .log and can be opened and edited using simple text editors such as .Notepad or .TextEdit. Text files are commonly used for storing data, notes, or configuration settings. Text files are versatile and can be easily shared between different operating systems, making them a popular choice for data exchange. They can also be processed by various programming languages, allowing developers to read from or write to them for applications like .data analysis or .scripting.