Definition of "Text Only"?

I've hooked up with some networks who mail "text only" internally. But I'm curious as to what everyone's definition of text only really is. I'll receive "tex-only" creatives from a network in rich text format which is clearly formatted with font styles.
To me, text only means plain text. AKA my header reads Content-Type: text/plain;

I'm wondering if some people call it "text only" just because there are no images.

When you mail "text only" is it text/plain or text/html, multipart/alternative (w/o images)?

 

These are all different things & different ways to do text creatives.

The most obvious drawback of Content-Type: text/plain is you cannot fire a pixel to track opens. Also you won't be able to use image-based unsub footer and once you start putting in unsub text you'll be a lot easier to fingerprint / profile / filter / attack.

 

I've also gone off the following:

• HTML - full graphics based in HTML code, you can obviously add plain text to these to balance the ratios
• HTML Lite - This is a hybrid of text, with NO images, in HTML code. This allows the benefits that DK described above plus you can format the text in headings, bold, colors, etc to make it easier to read and act upon.
• Text - this is straight up plain jane text creatives

 

Yes, i understand the difference in MIME types, i was just wondering if some people referred to html- formatted content without the use of images as 'text' .
I guess when i receive something called the 'text version' i assume it's in a txt file.

Its no big deal i was just curious if some people had a different definition.
Dk - thank you for the lesson
Arin - thanks for the breakdown - hybrid is a new one to me. I think I'm being sent over a Prius when i hear that

 

I personally mail html lite. But when i did do text only, it was as you described...text only. no html pure boring text.

 

Even when using text only creatives I still wind up using HTML for the exact purpose DKPMO mentioned,
Open tracking that as well as unsub images instead of using text.

But yeah so to me text only is still text/html - multipart/alternative, or anything without images really.

 

Plain text is plain text, no html. Not sure why anyone would say they send plain text if there is html in there.

aka: Content-Type: text/plain;