Complete Document File Extensions List for Developers

In software development, files have special endings called extensions that show what they are and how to use them. These extensions act like labels, telling us what’s inside the file. Knowing these extensions is important for developers because they work with different tools and languages. In this blog post, we’ll look at the most common document file extensions developers see, explaining what they do and how they are used. Whether you’re an experienced coder or a beginner, this guide will help you understand the digital world better.

.DOC and .DOCX

.DOC and .DOCX are the standard file format of Microsoft Word documents. DOCX files are XML-based DOC files. In newer versions of Word, files are saved as the DOCX format by default.

.HTML and .HTM

.HTML and .HTM are the standard markup language used when creating web pages. When opened in a text editor, like Sublime, HTML and HTM files allow HTML code to be edited. When opened in a web browser, the web page the code creates is presented.

.ODT

.ODT files are text documents that are similar to DOCX files. However, these files can be opened in open-source word processor programs, such as Openoffice. This is useful when you’re sharing files with others who may not have Microsoft Office.

.PDF

PDF files protects text and images within the document, allowing information to be distributed in an inalterable form. They’re nearly-universal file types, in that they can be opened on almost any modern device.  PDFs can also contain unalterable watermarks to further protect original documentation.

.XLS and .XLSX

.XLS and .XLSX are the standard file formats for Microsoft Excel. Like with DOCX files, XLSX files are used in the more modern versions of Excel.

 

.ODS

.ODS is the spreadsheet counterpart of .ODT files. Unlike XLS and XLSX files, they can be opened in third-party, open-source programs in addition to Microsoft Excel.

.PPT and .PPTX

.PPTs and .PPTX are the standard file formats for Microsoft PowerPoint. Again, PPTX is the more modern, XML-based version of the PPT file format.

.TXT

.TXT files are the most basic plaintext file format available. TXT files allow users to create text-based documents without worrying about formatting, font style, or text color.

File Extension List

In summary, the file extension list for common document types includes:

• .DOC and DOCX
• .HTML and .HTM
• .ODT
• .PDF
• .XLS and XLSX
• .ODS
• .PPT and .PPTX
• .TXT

As we discussed, there are many occasions when you will prefer to use a certain filetype over another. Filestack’s Document Conversion API offers a way for you to convert between document files programmatically in your code.

For example, you can convert a PDF with the external URL:

http://www.hauntedbay.com/tomes/stories/ebooks/AGhostStory.pdf

into a TXT file by calling:

https://process.filestackapi.com/AhTgLagciQByzXpFGRI0Az/output=format:txt/http://www.hauntedbay.com/tomes/stories/ebooks/AGhostStory.pdf

^Click on that link and you will see a .txt file!

Filestack also offers a Document Viewer, so you can embed documents on your website without any heavy plugins. The Filestack Document Viewer supports all of the document file extensions listed above, as well as all common image formats.  You can implement it with just a few lines of code:

<div type="filepicker-preview" data-fp-url="https://www.filestackapi.com/api/file/7cSeLSlZSmCk3k8CQtAv" style="width:75%; height:500px"> </div>

Overview

This guide covered a range of common document file formats—from Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files to open-source formats, PDFs, HTML/HTM pages, and simple TXT files. Understanding the differences and capabilities of these formats helps developers choose the best tool for their specific needs, whether that involves editing source code for a webpage, ensuring compatibility with open-source office tools, or securely distributing inalterable PDFs. By leveraging tools like Filestack’s Document Conversion API and Document Viewer, developers can seamlessly convert and display these documents in their applications, saving time and maintaining efficient, secure workflows.

With Filestack, these types of programmatic document conversions can save you hours, while maintaining secure file upload best practices. Get started for free today.

With Filestack, these types of programmatic document conversions can save you hours, while maintaining secure file upload best practices. Similar to our posts on The Complete Image File Extension List for Developers and The Complete List of Audio / Video File Formats for Developers, get started for free today.

 

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