What is the TYP file format?
A .typ file is a source document for Typst, an open-source, markup-based typesetting system. It holds plain text along with Typst markup that describes how the finished document should look. When you run the Typst compiler on the file, it produces a formatted output such as a .pdf.
Typst was created by Laurenz Mädje and Martin Haug and released publicly in March 2023. It is aimed at writers of essays, scientific papers, books, and reports who want an alternative to LaTeX with an easier syntax. The file is UTF-8 text and carries the media type text/vnd.typst. Inside, Typst mixes three modes: prose markup, math between $ signs, and a scripting mode introduced with # for variables and functions. Files can import other .typ modules, so a larger project is usually a small tree of sources with one main entry point.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWA .typ file is plain UTF-8 text and carries no embedded executable code that runs on its own. Typst markup can include scripting in code mode, but that logic only runs inside the Typst compiler during document layout and has no access to your system in the way a macro-enabled office document does. As with any source file, only compile documents from sources you trust, since scripts could reference external packages or assets.
Format details
in a nutshellFULL NAMETypst Source Documentaka Typst File, Typst Markup File
DEVELOPERTypst GmbH (original authors: Laurenz Mädje and Martin Haug)since 2023-03-21
CATEGORYText Files
MIME TYPEtext/vnd.typst
TYPEPlain-text markup source file
STANDARDOpen · royalty-free
This extension is also used by…
- Garmin / MapSource TYP file - In Garmin GPS mapping, a
.typfile defines the colors, patterns, and styling for objects in a compiled map. Unrelated to Typst. - Generic CAD line-type / object-type file - Some CAD tools use
.typfor line-type or object-type definitions. Unrelated to the Typst format.
Programs that open TYP files
Windows4 apps
Typst web app (online editor)
Freemium Open or upload the .typ file in the browser editor to get syntax highlighting and a side-by-side live PDF preview without installing anything.
typst-cli
Open-source Install the compiler and run typst compile file.typ to produce a PDF, or typst watch file.typ to auto-recompile while you edit.
Visual Studio Code with Tinymist Typst
Open-source Install the Tinymist extension, then open the .typ file to get language server support, autocompletion, and an in-editor preview.
Any text editor (TextEdit/BBEdit)
Free Open the .typ file to read or edit the raw markup, since the format is plain UTF-8 text. 
macOS4 apps
Typst web app (online editor)
Freemium Open or upload the .typ file in the browser editor for highlighting and a live preview with no local install.
typst-cli
Open-source Install via Homebrew or the release binaries and run typst compile file.typ to render the document to PDF.
Visual Studio Code with Tinymist Typst
Open-source Add the Tinymist extension and open the .typ file for completion, diagnostics, and a live preview pane.
Any text editor (TextEdit/BBEdit)
Freemium Open the .typ file as plain text to inspect or edit the markup directly. 
Linux4 apps
typst-cli
Open-source Install from your package manager, Cargo, or the release binary, then run typst compile file.typ to build the document.
Typst web app (online editor)
Freemium Upload the .typ file to the browser editor to edit and preview it without a local toolchain.
Visual Studio Code / VSCodium with Tinymist Typst
Open-source Install the Tinymist extension from Open VSX and open the .typ file for language support and live preview.
Any text editor (TextEdit/BBEdit)
Open-source Open the .typ file to read or edit the raw UTF-8 markup in a terminal or GUI editor.
Web1 app
Typst online editor
Freemium Sign in and open or import the .typ file to edit collaboratively with instant preview and template support. Technical details
deep spec| Encoding | UTF-8 plain text |
| Byte order | Not applicable (byte-oriented UTF-8; no BOM required) |
| Line Endings | Canonical form uses CRLF; tooling commonly accepts LF as well |
| Container | None (flat text file) |
| Typical size | A few hundred bytes to tens of kilobytes for a single document; larger projects split markup across several .typ files |
| Structure | A .typ file holds document text interleaved with Typst markup. The language has three modes: markup mode for prose, math mode delimited by $...$ for formulas, and code mode introduced with the # character for scripting, variables, and function calls. Files can import other .typ modules and package assets, so a project is often a tree of source files with one main entry point. |
| Integrity | None built into the format |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, Web |
| Compiler | typst-cli, written in Rust, released under Apache License 2.0 |
| Output Formats | Compiles to PDF (including PDF/A and PDF/UA-1), PNG, SVG, and experimental HTML |
| Notes | Typst supports incremental, memoized compilation, which makes live preview and the `typst watch` workflow fast. Unlike LaTeX it needs no preamble, and features such as bibliographies and cross-references are built in rather than added through packages. |
| Released | 2023-03-21 |
| Latest version | Typst 0.15.1 (July 2026) |
| Open standard | Yes · royalty-free |
| Specification | typst.app |
TYP conversions
Community Q&A
asked by usersNo questions yet - be the first to ask about TYP files.
Frequently asked questions
How do I open a .typ file?
Open it in the Typst web app or in VS Code with the Tinymist extension for highlighting and a live preview. Any plain-text editor also works because the file is UTF-8 text.
How do I turn a .typ file into a PDF?
Install the Typst command-line tool and run
typst compile file.typ, which writes file.pdf next to it. The Typst web app exports a PDF with one click.Is a .typ file the same as a LaTeX .tex file?
No. Both are text-based typesetting sources, but Typst uses its own syntax and compiler. It needs no preamble and builds in features like bibliographies that LaTeX handles through packages.
Can I edit a .typ file without installing anything?
Yes. Sign in to the Typst online editor and upload the file, or open it in any text editor to read and change the raw markup.
Are .typ files safe to open?
Yes for reading. They are plain text with no self-running code. Typst scripting only executes inside the compiler when you build the document, so treat unfamiliar sources with normal caution.
Why won't my .typ file open in Microsoft Word?
Word does not understand Typst markup. Open the file in Typst or a text editor, or use Pandoc to convert it to a format Word reads, such as
.docx.References
1IANA media type registration: text/vnd.typstwww.iana.org
2Typst on Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
