A type of computer file that contains plain text and can be opened and read by standard text editors on almost any computer, such as Notepad or Simple Text. Also called "plain text files," ASCII files store characters using a standardized code that ensures compatibility across different software and operating systems. Examples include documents saved in ASCII format from word processors, e-mail messages, and HTML files. ASCII files are widely used for programming, data exchange, and simple text storage because they are lightweight, universal, and easy to read or edit.