The best document format depends on your specific needs, balancing editing capability, universal readability, and long-term preservation. Key considerations include whether you need to edit the document frequently, share it broadly (potentially with people using different software), or ensure it remains accessible decades later. Common text document types include editable formats like DOCX (Microsoft Word) and ODT (OpenDocument), universally readable formats like PDF/A (a standard optimized for archiving), and simple text formats like TXT.

For typical collaborative editing within office environments, DOCX (using Microsoft 365 or LibreOffice) or ODT are widely used. To share a finalized document intended solely for viewing or printing across diverse platforms and devices, PDF is the de facto standard used globally. For maximum future readability, especially for plain text without complex formatting, TXT files remain highly reliable and universally supported on every operating system.

No single format is perfect. Proprietary formats like legacy DOC may face long-term accessibility challenges, while formats preserving complex layouts (like PDF) can be difficult to edit. Universal formats often sacrifice editing features. Consider your document's purpose: choose editable formats for active projects, PDF for distribution, and archiving standards like PDF/A or TXT for long-term preservation.