Format comparison
DOC vs TXT
How do DOC and TXTcompare? 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 While still widely encountered, it has been superseded by DOCX.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.
.txt
Full guide →Plain Text File
TXT is the simplest document format — pure text with no formatting. It's universally compatible, lightweight, and readable by every operating system and text editor in existence.
| Specification | DOC | TXT |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Microsoft Word Document (Legacy) | Plain Text File |
| Extension | .doc | .txt |
| MIME type | application/msword | text/plain |
| Category | Document | Document |
| Developer | Microsoft | N/A (universal standard) |
| Year introduced | 1983 | 1960s |
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
TXT advantages
- Universal compatibility — works everywhere
- Tiny file sizes
- No formatting issues or version problems
- Human-readable and machine-parseable
TXT limitations
- No formatting, images, or styling
- No structure beyond line breaks
- No metadata or document properties
- Not suitable for professional documents
Which should you use?
DOC and TXT serve different purposes. DOC is ideal for opening legacy documents, while TXT excels at configuration files and logs.
Best uses for DOC
Opening legacy documents
Compatibility with older systems
Template archives
Government and institutional legacy files
Best uses for TXT
Configuration files and logs
Quick notes and drafts
Data exchange between systems
README files and documentation
Convert between DOC and TXT
Need to switch formats? Convert for free with SquishConvert.