Format comparison
DOC vs DOCX
DOC is the legacy binary Word format; DOCX is the modern Office Open XML standard. Same job — drafting — different packaging and compatibility.
Decision table
| Feature | DOC | DOCX |
|---|---|---|
| Era | Legacy (97–2003) | Modern default |
| Structure | Binary OLE | ZIP + XML parts |
| Best for | Opening old files | All new documents |
| Interoperability | Weaker | Stronger |
| Google Docs / LibreOffice | Import caveats | Better |
| Security / macros | Older baggage | Still be careful with macro-enabled variants |
| Recommended for new work | No | Yes |
Choose DOC when…
- Reading historical .doc archives
- Migrating old shares
Choose DOCX when…
- Any new drafting
- Cross-platform collaboration
- Long-term editable storage
Verdict
Save new work as DOCX. Convert DOC→DOCX when opening old archives so modern Word, Google Docs, and LibreOffice behave predictably.
Convert between them
Jump straight into a private browser converter — files are not uploaded to a server.
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Convert DOC ↔ DOCX