.doc Word document
Documents & office
| MIME type | application/msword |
|---|---|
| Description | Word document |
| Category | Documents & office |
| Signature (magic bytes) | 31 BE 00 00 (1...)50 4F 5E 51 60 (PO^Q`)DB A5 2D 00 00 00 (..-...) |
| Based on | application/x-ole-storage |
Frequently asked questions
What is a .doc file?
A .doc file is a “Word document” (MIME type application/msword).
How do I open a .doc file?
With an office suite: LibreOffice (free, Windows/macOS/Linux) opens most document formats, as do Microsoft Office or the vendor’s own app.
How can you tell a genuine .doc file?
By the bytes at the start of the file, the signature (magic bytes): 31 BE 00 00 (1...), 50 4F 5E 51 60 (PO^Q`) and DB A5 2D 00 00 00 (..-...). On Linux and macOS, file --mime-type example.doc checks the real type regardless of the extension.
Which format is .doc based on?
Technically a .doc file is a subtype of “OLE2 compound document storage” (application/x-ole-storage), so programs for that base format can often read it too.
Which MIME type belongs to .doc?
The MIME type is application/msword. In the Apache web server: AddType application/msword .doc; in nginx: types { application/msword doc; }.