How do DOC and XLScompare? 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 While still widely encountered, it has been superseded by DOCX.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.
Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet (Legacy)
XLS is the legacy binary format used by Microsoft Excel before 2007. While superseded by XLSX, many existing spreadsheets and enterprise systems still use this format.
| Specification | DOC | XLS |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Microsoft Word Document (Legacy) | Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet (Legacy) |
| Extension | .doc | .xls |
| MIME type | application/msword | application/vnd.ms-excel |
| Category | Document | Document |
| Developer | Microsoft | Microsoft |
| Year introduced | 1983 | 1987 |
DOC and XLS serve different purposes. DOC is ideal for opening legacy documents, while XLS excels at legacy spreadsheet compatibility.
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