DOC vs DOCX vs ODT A Technical and Practical Comparison in 2026
Last Updated: 02 Feb, 2026
Word processing files look deceptively simple. You type text, add a few images, maybe track changes—and save. But behind that “Save As” button lies a complex ecosystem of file formats that directly impact performance, compatibility, security, collaboration, and long-term accessibility.
In 2026, three formats continue to dominate document workflows:
DOC – Microsoft Word’s legacy binary format DOCX – The modern Office Open XML standard ODT – The open-source OpenDocument Text format This blog post takes a technical yet practical deep dive into DOC vs DOCX vs ODT, helping developers, IT teams, content creators, and businesses choose the right format for today—and tomorrow.
Difference Between DOC and DOCX
DOC and DOCX extensions refer to the popular Microsoft Word file formats that have been part of its Office suite for a long time. DOC is the oldest file type and has been widely used prior to the introduction of the DOCX file format. DOC files are also known to be Word97-2003 files. DOCX file format was introduced with the launch of Word 2007 and is the default file format for saving word documents.