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HTM File - What is an .htm file and how do I open it?
Learn about .HTM files and view a list of programs that open them.
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Overview
What is an HTM file? An HTM file is a webpage written using Hypertext Markup Language ( HTML ). It contains tags and text that define the webpage's layout and content. HTM files are the same as .HTML files.
More Information HTM file open in Microsoft Visual Studio Code Old versions of Windows limited file extensions to three characters. Thus, while other platforms' web development tools saved HTML webpages with the .html extension, Microsoft's web development software, such as FrontPage, SharePoint Designer, and Expression Web, saved HTML webpages with the .htm extension. Since the three-character limitation no longer exists in Windows, most modern web development tools save HTML webpages as HTML files by default. Just like HTML files, HTM files contain webpage content and metadata . These elements are defined using opening and closing HTML tags. For example, the tag pair <body></body> defines where a webpage's body content begins and ends, while the tag pair <img></img> is used to add an image to a webpage. Unless you are a web developer, you are unlikely to encounter an HTM file. Web developers attempting to use HTM files with modern web servers and hosting systems may have to rename the files to use the .html extension, as some servers and systems now expect HTML files to use the .html extension by default.
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.HTM File Extension
Hypertext Markup Language File
| Developer | WHATWG |
| Popularity |
3.8 | 270 Votes |
NEW: Open your .HTM file online with File Helper . View Online
What is an HTM file?
An HTM file is a webpage written using Hypertext Markup Language ( HTML ). It contains tags and text that define the webpage's layout and content. HTM files are the same as .HTML files.
More Information
HTM file open in Microsoft Visual Studio Code
Old versions of Windows limited file extensions to three characters. Thus, while other platforms' web development tools saved HTML webpages with the .html extension, Microsoft's web development software, such as FrontPage, SharePoint Designer, and Expression Web, saved HTML webpages with the .htm extension. Since the three-character limitation no longer exists in Windows, most modern web development tools save HTML webpages as HTML files by default.
Unless you are a web developer, you are unlikely to encounter an HTM file. Web developers attempting to use HTM files with modern web servers and hosting systems may have to rename the files to use the .html extension, as some servers and systems now expect HTML files to use the .html extension by default.
How to open an HTM file
HTM file open in Google Chrome
You can open an HTM file with Microsoft Visual Studio Code (multiplatform) or any other text or source code editor, to view the HTML it contains. Opening an HTM file in a source code editor will highlight the file's HTML syntax, which makes reviewing and editing the file easier.
You can also open an HTM file in any web browser, such as Google Chrome (multiplatform), Microsoft Edge (multiplatform), or Apple Safari (Mac, iOS), to preview the webpage it contains.
Programs that open HTM files
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Program Name
Platform
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X
Windows
File Viewer Plus
—
Get it from Microsoft
Free +
Microsoft Visual Studio Code
Free
Brackets
Free
Adobe Dreamweaver 2021
Free Trial
Microsoft Visual Studio 2022
Free +
Microsoft Notepad
Included with OS
Any text editor
Microsoft Edge
Free
Google Chrome
Free
Any web browser
Mac
Microsoft Visual Studio Code
Free
Brackets
Free
Adobe Dreamweaver 2021
Free Trial
Apple TextEdit
Included with OS
Any text editor
Apple Safari
Included with OS
Google Chrome
Free
Any web browser
Linux
Microsoft Visual Studio Code
Free
Vim
Free
Any text editor
Google Chrome
Free
Mozilla Firefox
Free
Any web browser
Web
FileHelper.com
Free
iOS
Alexander Blach Textastic Code Editor
Paid
Apple Safari
Included with OS
Any web browser
Android
File Viewer for Android
Free +
Rhythm Software QuickEdit text editor
Free
Google Chrome
Free
Any web browser
Chrome OS
Google Chrome Text
Included with OS
Google Chrome
Free
Any web browser
Category: Web Files
Updated: March 31, 2023