---
title: ".toml file — what it is and how to open it"
description: "A .toml file is a Tom's Obvious Minimal Language. A configuration format designed to be unambiguous and easy to read. How to open one on Windows, macOS and Linux, and what to convert it to."
url: https://atoneplace.net/file/toml/
site: "At One Place"
---

# .toml files

**.toml file: Tom's Obvious Minimal Language**

A configuration format designed to be unambiguous and easy to read.

## What opens a .toml file

- **Windows:** Visual Studio Code, Notepad (built in), Notepad++
- **macOS:** Visual Studio Code, TextEdit (built in)
- **Linux:** Visual Studio Code, Text Editor (built in), Vim

## What a .toml file is

TOML was created by Tom Preston-Werner as a config format with obvious semantics and no indentation traps, using INI-style sections with proper types. Rust's Cargo.toml, Python's pyproject.toml and Hugo's config all use it. It is plain text, so any editor opens one.

## Converting it

A .toml file is commonly converted to .json, .yaml or .txt. It is a plain text format, so any text editor can open and edit it directly.

## Details

- **Extension:** .toml
- **Full name:** Tom's Obvious Minimal Language
- **Category:** Data
- **MIME type:** application/toml
- **Created by:** Tom Preston-Werner
- **Format:** Plain text

## Common questions

### How do I open a .toml file?

On Windows use Visual Studio Code; on macOS use Visual Studio Code; on Linux use Visual Studio Code. A configuration format designed to be unambiguous and easy to read.

### What is a .toml file?

Tom's Obvious Minimal Language. TOML was created by Tom Preston-Werner as a config format with obvious semantics and no indentation traps, using INI-style sections with proper types. Rust's Cargo.toml, Python's pyproject.toml and Hugo's config all use it.

### Can I convert a .toml file?

Yes. It is usually converted to .json, .yaml or .txt, either by exporting from one of the programs listed above or with a format converter.

## Related pages

- [.csv — Comma-Separated Values](https://atoneplace.net/file/csv/)
- [.json — JavaScript Object Notation](https://atoneplace.net/file/json/)
- [.xml — Extensible Markup Language](https://atoneplace.net/file/xml/)
- [.yaml — YAML Data File](https://atoneplace.net/file/yaml/)
- [.log — Log File](https://atoneplace.net/file/log/)
- [.torrent — BitTorrent Metainfo File](https://atoneplace.net/file/torrent/)
- [.dat — Generic Data File](https://atoneplace.net/file/dat/)
- [.vcf — vCard Contact File](https://atoneplace.net/file/vcf/)
- [.sql — SQL Script](https://atoneplace.net/file/sql/)
- [.ics — iCalendar Event](https://atoneplace.net/file/ics/)
- [.sqlite — SQLite Database](https://atoneplace.net/file/sqlite/)
- [.db — Generic Database File](https://atoneplace.net/file/db/)

## Sources

- Media Types Registry — IANA (https://www.iana.org/assignments/media-types/)
- Official vendor product documentation — At One Place (/about/)