How do DOC and XLSXcompare? 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 While still widely encountered, it has been superseded by DOCX.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.
Office Open XML Spreadsheet
XLSX is the default format for Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. It supports complex formulas, charts, pivot tables, and large datasets. It's the industry standard for data analysis and financial modeling.
| Specification | DOC | XLSX |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Microsoft Word Document (Legacy) | Office Open XML Spreadsheet |
| Extension | .doc | .xlsx |
| MIME type | application/msword | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet |
| Category | Document | Document |
| Developer | Microsoft | Microsoft |
| Year introduced | 1983 | 2007 |
DOC and XLSX serve different purposes. DOC is ideal for opening legacy documents, while XLSX excels at financial reports and budgets.
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