OpenDocument

OpenDocument, or the OpenDocument Format (ODF), is an open, XML-based standard for office documents. It covers text documents, spreadsheets, presentations, drawings, and mathematical formulas, and is designed to ensure long-term interoperability across applications and platforms. ODF files are typically delivered as ZIP archives containing XML files that describe content, styles, metadata, and settings. Common file extensions include .odt for text documents, .ods for spreadsheets, .odp for presentations, and .odg for drawings.

ODF was developed by the OASIS OpenDocument Format Technical Committee and is maintained as an open standard. It was first published as an OASIS standard in the mid-2000s and was later adopted by ISO/IEC as ISO/IEC 26300. The standard specifies the structure and semantics of documents and promotes compatibility between implementations. Its XML-based nature supports straightforward long-term access and data migration, as well as interoperability with other XML technologies.

In practice, OpenDocument is supported by several office suites and applications, most notably LibreOffice and Apache OpenOffice, and is also supported by Google Docs and other cloud services. It is valued for its vendor neutrality and its role in reducing vendor lock-in in sectors such as government and education. ODF continues to evolve through revisions that address compatibility with new features and accessibility requirements.