Plain Text Files Won't Work on the Web
You have a text file you want to publish online. The problem is plain TXT files have no formatting structure. When you paste raw text into a webpage, you lose paragraphs, line breaks, and any visual organization.
Converting TXT to HTML transforms your plain text into web-ready content. HTML wraps your text in proper tags that browsers understand, preserving paragraphs and structure. In our testing, even simple TXT files convert cleanly with paragraph tags intact.
How to Convert TXT to HTML
- Upload your TXT file - Drag and drop or click to select your text file
- Confirm HTML output - HTML is selected as your target format
- Download your HTML - Your text is now formatted for the web
The entire process takes seconds. No coding knowledge required, no software to install.
What Happens During Conversion
TXT files are just raw characters with no formatting instructions. HTML uses tags to define structure. Here's what the conversion does:
- Paragraphs - Line breaks become proper <p> tags
- Line spacing - Empty lines are preserved as paragraph breaks
- Special characters - Characters like & and < are encoded properly
- Text encoding - UTF-8 characters convert correctly
The result is clean HTML that any browser can render correctly.
Common Use Cases
Publishing Blog Posts
You wrote a draft in a simple text editor. Now you need it on your website. Converting to HTML gives you the structured format your CMS expects.
Email Templates
Plain text emails look unprofessional. HTML versions display properly with paragraphs and can be styled consistently across email clients.
Documentation
Technical documentation often starts as text files. HTML conversion makes it viewable in any browser without special software.
Archiving Content
Old text files can be converted to HTML for better long-term accessibility. HTML is more future-proof than proprietary formats.
TXT vs HTML - Key Differences
Understanding what changes helps you decide when conversion makes sense:
- File size - HTML files are slightly larger due to tag markup
- Editability - TXT opens in any text editor; HTML works best with code editors
- Display - TXT shows raw text; HTML renders formatted content in browsers
- Compatibility - TXT is universal; HTML is specifically for web display
If you need to display content on the web, HTML format is the right choice. For simple editing, TXT remains easier to work with.
When to Choose a Different Format
HTML is ideal for web publishing, but other formats might suit your needs better:
- TXT to PDF - When you need a fixed-layout document for printing or sharing
- TXT to DOCX - When you need to edit with formatting tools in Word
- TXT to XML - When you need structured data rather than display formatting
Each format serves a different purpose. HTML is specifically for content meant to be viewed in web browsers.
Works on Any Device
Our TXT to HTML converter runs entirely in your browser:
- Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook
- Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
- iPhone, iPad, Android tablets and phones
No downloads required. Your files stay on your device during conversion.