Explore various document file types, their uses, and compatible software.
Microsoft Word document format, widely used for word processing.
Updated Microsoft Word format, XML-based for compatibility and smaller file sizes.
OpenDocument Text, used in LibreOffice and OpenOffice, open standard for text documents.
Portable Document Format, universally used for sharing formatted documents.
Rich Text Format, supports basic text formatting, widely compatible.
Plain text file format, used for unformatted text, supported universally.
Apple Pages document format, used for documents created on Mac OS.
Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, used for data management and analysis.
Excel format based on XML, more compatible and efficient than .xls.
OpenDocument Spreadsheet, used in LibreOffice and OpenOffice.
Comma-separated values file, used to store tabular data, compatible with spreadsheets.
PowerPoint Presentation, used for slideshows and presentations in Microsoft PowerPoint.
XML-based PowerPoint format, improved version with compatibility for modern software.
OpenDocument Presentation, open-source presentation format used in LibreOffice.
Apple Keynote presentation file, used on Mac for creating slideshows.
eBook format, widely supported across e-readers for digital books.
Amazon’s eBook format, optimized for Kindle devices.
Amazon Kindle format with DRM protection, used for digital books.
Enhanced Kindle format with additional support for complex formatting.
Hypertext Markup Language, used for creating web pages.
Alternate HTML extension, same functionality for web documents.
Extensible Hypertext Markup Language, stricter than HTML for mobile devices.
Extensible Markup Language, structured format for data exchange.
Markdown, text format for creating formatted documents, popular in documentation.
JavaScript Object Notation, used for data interchange between applications.
YAML Ain't Markup Language, common in configuration files for software.
Alternate extension for YAML files, used in configuration settings.
Initialization file, used for configuration settings in software.
Log file, contains a record of events, used in software and systems.
LaTeX format, used for scientific and academic documents with precise formatting.
StarOffice Writer document, used in the discontinued StarOffice suite.
OpenOffice.org 1.x Text Document Template, used for template files in OpenOffice.
StarOffice Document Writer, used in StarOffice.
Microsoft Works Spreadsheet, used in the discontinued Microsoft Works suite.
WordPerfect Document, used for text documents in Corel WordPerfect.
Microsoft Works Word Processor, used in the Microsoft Works suite.
OpenOffice Calc Spreadsheet, used in OpenOffice for data storage.
Data Interchange Format, used to import/export spreadsheets.
Print file, saved as plain text, often used in document printing.
Lotus 1-2-3 Spreadsheet, legacy format used in Lotus spreadsheets.
OpenOffice.org 1.x Impress Presentation, used for slideshows.
PowerPoint Slide Show, automatically opens as a slideshow.
PowerPoint Template, used to create multiple presentations with the same format.
OpenDocument Presentation Template, used in OpenOffice Impress.
Database File, used in dBASE and other database software.
Palm Resource File, used in Palm devices and Palm OS applications.
Microsoft eBook format, used for digital books on Microsoft Reader.
FictionBook, an XML-based eBook format popular in Russia.
Apple iBooks format, used for interactive eBooks on Apple devices.
Comic Book Archive, stores comic images in ZIP format for e-readers.
Comic Book Archive (RAR), stores comic images in RAR format for e-readers.
Open XML Paper Specification, used for fixed-layout documents in Windows.
XML Paper Specification, used to save document layouts for viewing or printing.
Format for scanned documents, optimized for text-heavy images.
AbiWord Document, open-source format for word processing.
ClarisWorks document, used in Apple’s ClarisWorks suite.
ASCII text file containing information about digital content, often used in releases.
ReStructuredText, a lightweight markup language for documentation.
GNU Texinfo format, used for technical documentation.
Standard Generalized Markup Language, used for structured documents.
Darwin Information Typing Architecture, used for structured content authoring.
XML-based DITA files, used in content management.
Screenwriting format, text-based for screenplays.
Outline Processor Markup Language, used for outlines and notes.
Scrivener project file, used for writing and organizing in Scrivener software.
WordPerfect Document, legacy format used in Corel WordPerfect.
Write Document, used in Windows Write, an early word processor.
Crossword Compiler, used for creating crosswords.
TextMaker Document, used in SoftMaker Office suite.
Kindle Annotation file, stores notes for Kindle books.
Notability note file, used for notes on iOS devices.
OneNote file, used for note-taking and organizing in Microsoft OneNote.
OneNote Table of Contents, used for navigation in OneNote notebooks.
Google Docs link file, opens documents in Google Docs.
Google Sheets link file, opens spreadsheets in Google Sheets.
Google Slides link file, opens presentations in Google Slides.
Google Drawings link file, opens drawings in Google Drawings.
WordPerfect 5 Document, used in WordPerfect version 5.
WordPerfect 6 Document, used in WordPerfect version 6.
Unix Manual, used for Unix documentation.
Manual (ME macros), formatting language for UNIX manuals.
Text formatting system for UNIX, used in technical documentation.
Formatting language in UNIX for documents.
Email Message, used for saved email messages.
Outlook Message, used to save emails from Microsoft Outlook.
Outlook Template, used to create reusable email templates.
iCalendar, standard for calendar events, used in scheduling.
vCalendar, used for sharing calendar events.
Resource Description Framework, used for metadata.
OpenDocument Master Document, used for organizing multiple documents.
OpenDocument Text Template, used in LibreOffice.
OpenOffice HTML Document Template.
OpenOffice Extension, used for plugins in OpenOffice.
StarOffice Drawing, used for vector graphics in StarOffice.
GNU documentation format, used in software manuals.
SGML file for structured documents.
Macro-enabled Word Document, supports embedded macros.