What is a README file?
A .README file is a text document that contains essential information about other files in a directory or software package. Software developers use these files to provide instructions, release notes, and configuration details. While developers commonly name this file `README.md` or `README.txt`, some systems and archives use the specific .README file extension. Examples include archive exports from Google Takeout, browser settings information from Microsoft Edge, and legacy software descriptions from AmigaOS.
How to open README files?
Because most .README files store plain text data, you can open them with any standard text editor. On Windows, you can use Microsoft Notepad. On macOS, you can use Apple TextEdit. Software developers frequently read them using code editors like Visual Studio Code or command-line tools like `cat` and `less` on Linux.
File Conversion
If you want to share the information in a more standardized document format, you can convert a .README file to a .PDF or .DOCX file. We recommend using convert.guru to safely convert .README files into sensible target formats like .TXT, .MD, or .PDF.
Summary
Because a .README file can originate from many different software systems, it might have multiple possible meanings. viewer.online/readme can analyze .README files to identify the exact format and creator software, inspect the file structure, extract readable text, and check whether an online preview is available. In short, viewer.online/readme is useful for identifying, inspecting, and understanding .README files without installing software or dealing with compatibility problems.