ODT (OpenDocument Text)
The open standard that gave millions of people a free alternative to Word.
| Full name | OpenDocument Text |
| Extension | .odt |
| MIME type | application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.text |
| Developer | OASIS (Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards) |
| Released | 2005 (ODF 1.0 standard approved May 1, 2005) |
| Type | Document |
| ISO standard | ISO/IEC 26300 (adopted 2006) |
| Container | ZIP archive containing XML files |
What is a ODT file?
ODT is an open file format for word processing documents. It is part of the OpenDocument Format (ODF) family, approved as an international standard by both OASIS and ISO. LibreOffice, OpenOffice, and Google Docs all support it natively.
An ODT file is a ZIP archive that contains a set of XML files. Each XML file handles a different part of the document: the text content, the styles, the metadata, and the settings. Images and other embedded assets sit in subfolders inside the same archive. Because the format is XML-based and fully documented, any software can read or write it without licensing fees. That openness makes ODT the preferred format for governments and institutions that require long-term document accessibility.
History
OASIS formed a technical committee in 2002 to create a vendor-neutral office document format. The work built on Sun Microsystems' existing XML format for OpenOffice.org, which had been in use since 2000. OASIS published ODF 1.0, including the ODT specification, on May 1, 2005. ISO and IEC adopted it as ISO/IEC 26300 in 2006, making it one of the few office formats to hold that status. In 2025 the Document Foundation marked 20 years since that original OASIS approval.
How it works
An ODT file is a renamed ZIP archive. Unzip it and you find content.xml, which holds all the text, paragraphs, and tables. styles.xml defines named styles such as headings and body text. meta.xml stores author name, creation date, and word count. settings.xml records application preferences like view zoom or print settings. A Pictures folder holds any embedded images. A small mimetype file at the root of the archive tells software what kind of ODF document it is.
What it is used for
- Writing reports and letters with LibreOffice or OpenOffice
- Exchanging documents with government agencies that require an open standard
- Storing long-term archival documents without vendor lock-in
- Collaborating on text documents in Google Docs and then saving locally
How to open it
LibreOffice Writer and Apache OpenOffice Writer open ODT files natively and for free on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Microsoft Word (2013 and later), Google Docs, and OneDrive also support ODT, though complex formatting may not transfer perfectly.
Pros and cons
Strengths
- Fully open standard with a public specification anyone can implement
- Supported by LibreOffice, OpenOffice, Google Docs, and modern Word versions
- ISO/IEC certified, making it accepted by governments and public institutions
- ZIP-based structure keeps file sizes small and allows easy inspection or repair
Trade-offs
- Complex formatting can shift when opening in Microsoft Word
- Less common in corporate environments where DOCX is the default
- Some advanced Word features like certain macros have no ODT equivalent
- Older versions of Word require a compatibility pack to open ODT files
Convert ODT files
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From ODT
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ODT FAQ
Is ODT the same as DOCX?
No. Both are word processing formats, but DOCX is Microsoft's proprietary format while ODT is an open ISO standard. They use different XML schemas, so converting between them may cause minor formatting differences.
Can Microsoft Word open ODT files?
Yes. Word 2013 and later can open and save ODT files. The conversion is not always perfect, especially for documents with complex styles or embedded objects.
Is ODT safe to use for long-term storage?
Yes. Because ODT is an ISO-certified open standard with a fully public specification, it is one of the formats recommended by archivists and governments for long-term document preservation.
How do I convert ODT to PDF or DOCX?
LibreOffice Writer can export ODT to PDF or DOCX directly via File > Export or Save As. Online converters also handle the conversion if you do not have desktop software installed.