What is a .HTM file?
A .HTM file is a type of document used to create web pages, and it stands for Hypertext Markup Language File. This file contains HTML code, which includes various tags and text that help define how the content and layout of a webpage should appear. The .HTM extension is essentially the same as .HTML, but it was more commonly used in the past when Windows systems limited file extensions to three characters.
The content inside an HTM file is structured with HTML tags, such as `
` for the main content of the page, or `You can open HTM files with a wide range of programs. For editing, you can use text editors like Microsoft Notepad, which is included with Windows, or Apple TextEdit, which comes with macOS. More advanced editors like Microsoft Visual Studio Code, Adobe Dreamweaver 2021, or Brackets offer more features for web developers, such as syntax highlighting and live previews.
For simply viewing HTM files, any web browser, such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, or Apple Safari, will work. These browsers can interpret the HTML code and display the webpage as intended.
In the past, Microsoft's web development tools like FrontPage and SharePoint Designer saved HTML pages with the .htm extension due to the three-character limit. Nowadays, this limit no longer exists, and most tools and web servers prefer the .html extension. Web developers might need to rename .htm files to .html if they are working with modern web hosting systems that expect the four-character extension.
In summary, .HTM files are used to create and structure web pages. They can be opened and edited with various text editors and viewed using any web browser. While .HTM and .HTML files function the same way, the use of .htm is less common today due to changes in file naming conventions.
Verification
Our goal is to help people find the most up-to-date information about file extensions for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS. We researched over 10,000 file extensions and their respective programs that open those files. If you want to suggest edits or updates about .HTM file formats, example files, or programs that are compatible. Please contact us.