.DOC File Extension
File Type 1Microsoft Word Document
Developer | Microsoft |
Popularity |
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Category | Text Files |
Format | Binary |
What is a DOC file?
A DOC file is a word processing document created by Microsoft Word, or another word processing program, such as OpenOffice Writer or Apple Pages. It may contain formatted text, images, tables, graphs, charts, page formatting, and print settings.
DOC files are used to save a variety of documents including letters, resumes, essays, and invitations. When you create a document in Word you can choose to save it in the DOC file format. The program then creates a DOC file to store the contents of the document, which can be closed and opened again for further editing. When you are done editing your DOC file you can print it or save it as another file, such as .PDF or .DOT.
The DOC file was designated as Microsoft Word's primary format in 1983. DOC files were saved in the same format up until Word 97 when another version of the binary format was introduced and used by Microsoft Word 97 to 2003. In 2006, the DOC file format was replaced by the .DOCX file format with the release of Microsoft Word 2007. DOCX files store documents in the OpenXML format.
NOTE: Word is the most popular word processing application in the world. It comes with every edition of the Microsoft Office suite and is used in home, academic, and business environments.
Document1.doc - The default filename that Microsoft Word gives to new documents prior to Word 2007 (Word 2007 uses Document1.docx by default).
How do I open a DOC file?
You can open DOC files with Microsoft Word for Windows or with Microsoft Word for Mac. Word is the best application for opening DOC files because it fully supports the formatting of Word documents, which includes text spacing and alignment, images, charts, and tables. Word is also available for Android and iOS devices.
You can also open DOC files with other word processors but some of the formatting of the original documents may be altered or lost. Some word processors that support DOC files include Corel WordPerfect (Windows), Apple Pages (Mac), and Apache OpenOffice Writer (multiplatform).
You can also open DOC files with various web programs. Google Docs is a free web application that allows you to upload a DOC file and view, edit, save, and convert the document.
Programs that open DOC files
File Type 2WordPad Document
Developer | Microsoft |
Popularity |
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Category | Text Files |
Format | N/A |
.DOC File Association 2
Text document created with Microsoft WordPad (bundled with Microsoft Windows)