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format

ODT

ODT is the ISO-standard open document format used by LibreOffice.

Also known as OpenDocument Text.

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What is a ODT file?

A ZIP-packaged XML word-processing format standardised by OASIS and ISO, and the native format of LibreOffice Writer.

Technical characteristics

Representation
binary
Compression
Deflate
Lossy
No
Open specification
Yes

History and origin

Introduced
2005
Organisation
OASIS

Compatibility

  • Windowsfull
  • macOSfull
  • Linuxfull

Applications: LibreOffice, OpenOffice, Word 2016+, Google Docs.

Advantages of ODT

  • Fully open standard with no vendor lock-in
  • Preferred by several governments

Limitations to know about

  • Word's ODT rendering can differ subtly
  • Less common in corporate workflows

When to use ODT

  • Public-sector documents
  • Open-source workflows

Convert ODT files

ODT scores

Deterministic scores calculated from the structured facts above. Identical facts always produce identical scores.

Overall score

84/100

  • Printing score

    100
    • lossless data means no compression artefacts appear at print resolution
    • a broad range of applications read and write it

    Confidence 50% · evidence coverage 50%

  • Editing score

    100
    • lossless data survives repeated open-edit-save cycles without degrading
    • a broad range of applications read and write it

    Confidence 46% · evidence coverage 63%

  • Openness score

    100
    • the specification is published openly
    • an openly specified format can be implemented without a licence negotiation

    Confidence 49% · evidence coverage 100%

  • Archiving score

    97
    • the specification is public, so a decoder can always be rebuilt
    • the specification is published openly
    • it is actively maintained and current
    • an openly specified format can be implemented without a licence negotiation

    Confidence 62% · evidence coverage 89%

  • Compatibility score

    96
    • Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS all open it without extra software
    • a broad range of applications read and write it
    • an open specification means cloud SDKs can implement it without licensing friction
    • it opens by double-clicking on every mainstream device

    Confidence 63% · evidence coverage 75%

  • Longevity score

    96
    • it is actively maintained and current
    • the specification is published openly
    • the specification is public, so a decoder can always be rebuilt
    • it sits at the centre of the format ecosystem, with many documented relationships

    Confidence 61% · evidence coverage 100%

  • AI score

    92
    • open specifications are implemented by the open-source decoders that ML stacks rely on
    • the specification is published openly
    • a broad range of applications read and write it
    • large lossless payloads cost bandwidth and memory

    Confidence 47% · evidence coverage 100%

  • Photography score

    75
    • lossless data survives repeated open-edit-save cycles without degrading
    • it opens by double-clicking on every mainstream device
    • it stores data losslessly, so files stay large

    Confidence 51% · evidence coverage 44%

  • Web score

    41
    • the specification is published openly
    • it stores data losslessly, so files stay large
    • large lossless payloads cost bandwidth and memory

    Confidence 50% · evidence coverage 67%

  • Performance score

    35
    • it stores data losslessly, so files stay large
    • large lossless payloads cost bandwidth and memory

    Confidence 57% · evidence coverage 100%

  • Streaming score

    33
    • it stores data losslessly, so files stay large
    • large lossless payloads cost bandwidth and memory

    Confidence 59% · evidence coverage 50%

What ODT is recommended for

Every conclusion below is derived from the structured facts on this page — nothing is written by hand.

  • Operating system compatibility100/100

    • Because Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS all open it without extra software.
    • Because most platforms handle it natively.

  • Software compatibility100/100

    • Because a broad range of applications read and write it.
    • Because several mainstream applications support it.

  • Printing suitability100/100

    • Because lossless data means no compression artefacts appear at print resolution.
    • Because it is a page-description format built around fixed layout.

  • Cloud compatibility100/100

    • Because an open specification means cloud SDKs can implement it without licensing friction.
    • Because it converts into many other formats, which suits automated pipelines.

  • AI compatibility100/100

    • Because open specifications are implemented by the open-source decoders that ML stacks rely on.
    • Because lossless pixels avoid compression artefacts leaking into training data.
    • Because wide library support means common data loaders can read it.

  • Long-term archiving100/100

    • Because the specification is public, so a decoder can always be rebuilt.
    • Because lossless storage preserves the original data for future migrations.
    • Because it is a current, actively maintained format.

  • Professional editing100/100

    • Because lossless data survives repeated open-edit-save cycles without degrading.
    • Because professional applications read and write it.

  • Open standards100/100

    • Because the specification is published openly.

  • Licensing100/100

    • Because an openly specified format can be implemented without a licence negotiation.
    • Because the core patents are old enough to have expired.

  • Popularity100/100

    • Because it sits at the centre of the format ecosystem, with many documented relationships.
    • Because mainstream applications ship support for it.
    • Because every mainstream operating system handles it.

  • Future-proofing88/100

    • Because it is actively maintained and current.
    • Because open specifications outlive the companies that create them.
    • Because nothing in the graph supersedes it yet.

  • Everyday consumer usage75/100

    • Because it opens by double-clicking on every mainstream device.
    • Because it is a current format that people and services still expect.

What ODT is not recommended for

  • Compression efficiency23/100

    • Because it stores data losslessly, so files stay large.
    • Because its codec generation predates modern entropy coding and block partitioning.

  • Web suitability33/100

    • Because lossless payloads cost more bandwidth than the web usually justifies.

Related to ODT

File extensions

Compression used

Compared with

Data quality

Every claim on this page is classified as a verified fact, a derived fact or an assumption.

Overall confidence
83%
Verification status
verified
Last reviewed
2026-08-03
Verified facts
2

2 classified claims backed by 1 source.

  • Convert Always editorial review — Convert Always

Sources and review status

Review status: verified · confidence 80%

Last reviewed 2026-08-03 (revision 1).

  • Convert Always editorial review — Convert Always