DOC vs HTML
How do DOC and HTMLcompare? Here's everything you need to know to choose the right format — and how to convert between them.
.doc
Full guide →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 While still widely encountered, it has been superseded by DOCX.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.
.html
Full guide →HyperText Markup Language
HTML is the standard markup language for creating web pages. While primarily a web technology, HTML files are also used as a portable document format with rich formatting and multimedia support.
| Specification | DOC | HTML |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Microsoft Word Document (Legacy) | HyperText Markup Language |
| Extension | .doc | .html |
| MIME type | application/msword | text/html |
| Category | Document | Document |
| Developer | Microsoft | W3C / WHATWG |
| Year introduced | 1983 | 1993 |
DOC advantages
- Universal recognition
- Compatible with older Word versions
- Still supported by all major office suites
- Extensive installed base of existing documents
DOC limitations
- Larger file sizes than DOCX
- Binary format — harder to recover if corrupted
- Limited to older feature set
- Being phased out in favor of DOCX
HTML advantages
- Viewable in any web browser
- Rich formatting and multimedia
- Accessible and searchable text
- Can include interactive elements
HTML limitations
- Not a fixed-layout format
- Rendering varies between browsers
- External resources may break links
- Not ideal for print or signing
Which should you use?
DOC and HTML serve different purposes. DOC is ideal for opening legacy documents, while HTML excels at web pages and email newsletters.
Best uses for DOC
Best uses for HTML
Convert between DOC and HTML
Need to switch formats? Convert for free with SquishConvert.