RSS is an XML based text file format used by Really Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary (RSS) service. RSS service is used by many websites to publish news to their users or to RSS news aggregators. Users can reed news by using services like Google Reader, Feedly or RSS feed reader software.

There are 5 other file types using
the RSS file extension!

empty icon.rss - PlanMan image data

empty icon.rss - ReliaSoft BlockSim data

empty icon.rss - Rockwell Logix 500 SLC-5 software data

empty icon.rss - Symbian OS application resource file

empty icon.rss - RAM Structural System model

RSS file extension - Really Simple Syndication - RSS file format

What is rss file? How to open rss files?

File type specification:

Internet related file type icon Internet related file type

File extension rss is commonly used for Really Simple Syndication format.

The rss file is stored in an XML (eXtensible Markup Language) format modified to share headlines, annotations, samples of an article etc. through RSS service. RSS means Really Simple Syndication (also known as Rich Site Summary).

The rss XML files can be read in a software called "feed reader" or "RSS aggregator". Popular web browsers, like Internet Explorer, Chrome etc. contain a simple form of RSS aggregator. To subscribe a feed you need to click on an icon in browser that identifies RSS feed of an website.

The initials "RSS" are used to refer to the following formats:

  • Really Simple Syndication (RSS 2.0)
  • RDF Site Summary (RSS 1.0 and RSS 0.90)
  • Rich Site Summary (RSS 0.91)

RSS formats are specified using XML, a generic specification for the creation of data formats.

RSS Syntax

RSS XML text file contains static information about web site (title, links, language) as well as dynamic information about new articles and new content. All information are start and end with tags (a set of HTML-like tags).

Each story is defined by an ITEM tag, which contains a headline TITLE, URL, and DESCRIPTION. Here's an example:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<rss version="2.0">
<channel>
  <title>File-Extensions.org Articles</title>
  <link>https://www.file-extensions.org/rss/articles</link>
  <description>RSS channel description....</description>
  <language>en-us</language>
   <item>
     <title>Feedly: Google Reader alternative</title>
     <link>http://www.example.com/article1.html</link>
     <description>
       Google announced that it will discontinue and remove Google Reader RSS aggregator from its free services - with the date of final stop being set to 1st July 2013...
     </description>
   </item>
   
   <item>
     <title>Disable lock screen in Windows 8</title>
     <link>http://www.example.com/article2.html</link>
     <description>
        Whilst the lock screen in Windows 8......
     </description>
   </item>
   ...
  

RSS channel can contain up to 15 items and also can be easily parsed by server-side scripting languages (PHP, Perl etc.).

The valid RSS XML file can be registered in various web RSS aggregators. After the RSS file on your web is updated, all RSS aggreators, where you have your RSS feed subscribed, automatically actualize information for users.

MIME types:
application/rss+xml

The default software associated to open rss file:

FeedDemon icon

NewsGator Technologies, Inc. logoFeedDemon  Microsoft Windows software

Company or developer:
NewsGator Technologies, Inc.

FeedDemon is easy-to-use RSS reader for Microsoft Windows. Users can completely customize and organize RSS feeds.

FeedDemon was discontinued in June 2013. You can still download it for free, but it won't be updated and support for it is no longer available.

Reeder for Mac icon

Reeder for Mac  Apple macOS / Mac OS X software

Company or developer:
Silvio Rizzi

Reeder for Mac is popular easy-to-use Google Reader client and RSS reader. Reeder is able to synchronize with Google Reader and show the RSS feeds. It can manage starred articles and websites, share feeds with other services etc.

Related articles:

Google Reader replacements

Feedly: Google Reader alternative

Help how to open:

Use some RSS feed reader software to get the information from a *.rss file.

How to convert:

There is no reason to convert *.rss files to other file formats.

Find conversions from rss file:

rss to asmx

File identification strings:

HEX code: 3C 3F 78 6D 6C 20 76 65 72 73 69 6F 6E 3D 22 31 2E
ASCII code: .?xml.version=

Related links:

Information and links abour RSS file format at Wikipedia

List of recommended software applications associated to the .rss file extension

Recommended software programs are sorted by OS platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android etc.)
and possible program actions that can be done with the file: like open rss file, edit rss file, convert rss file, view rss file, play rss file etc. (if exist software for corresponding action in File-Extensions.org's database).

Software that open rss file - Really Simple Syndication - RSS file format

Programs supporting the exension rss on the main platforms Windows, Mac, Linux or mobile. Click on the link to get more information about listed programs for open rss file action.

Microsoft Windows:

Main software associated with rss file by default:
FeedDemon small icon FeedDemon
Other suggested software:
WebReader small icon WebReader

Apple macOS / Mac OS X:

Main software associated with rss file by default:
Reeder for Mac small icon Reeder for Mac
Other suggested software:
Feedly for Mac small icon Feedly for Mac
Cappuccino small icon Cappuccino

Multiplatform:

On-line services:

Apple iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch devices):

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