How do DOC and EPUBcompare? Here's everything you need to know to choose the right format — and how to convert between them.
Microsoft Word Document (Legacy)
DOC is the legacy binary format used by Microsoft Word before 2007. While still widely encountered, it has been superseded by DOCX. Many older documents and templates still use this format.
Electronic Publication
EPUB is the open standard for digital books and publications. It supports reflowable content that adapts to any screen size, making it the preferred format for e-readers and reading apps.
| Specification | DOC | EPUB |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Microsoft Word Document (Legacy) | Electronic Publication |
| Extension | .doc | .epub |
| MIME type | application/msword | application/epub+zip |
| Category | Document | Document |
| Developer | Microsoft | International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF) |
| Year introduced | 1983 | 2007 |
DOC and EPUB serve different purposes. DOC is ideal for opening legacy documents, while EPUB excels at e-books and digital publications.
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