Plain text refers to a simple format of text that contains no special formatting, such as bold, italics, or different fonts. It consists only of characters, numbers, and symbols, making it easy to read and edit. Plain text files typically have extensions like .txt and can be opened by various text editors, such as .Notepad or .TextEdit. Because plain text is universally compatible, it is often used for coding, data storage, and documentation. It allows for easy sharing and transfer between different systems without losing any information. Additionally, plain text is essential for programming languages like .Python and .Java, where code must be written in a straightforward manner.