Office Open XML (OOXML)
OOXML is the dominant enterprise document format. Every `.docx` is a ZIP you can unzip — knowing the part layout enables templating, mail-merge, and malware scanning.
What It Defines
Microsoft Office document suite: ZIP container with `[Content_Types].xml`, `_rels/`, and `word/`, `xl/`, or `ppt/` part trees of XML + embedded media. Formats: `.docx`, `.xlsx`, `.pptx`. MIME types: `application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.*`.
Canonical (Normative)
Convenient (Practical)
Publishes the ECMAScript (JavaScript) language specification and related standards. TC39 is the committee responsible for ECMAScript evolution.
Related Specs
ODF is the default format for LibreOffice/OpenOffice and some government mandates. ZIP envelope + XML payload pattern mirrors OOXML design.
ZIP is everywhere — downloads, backups, Java JARs, Office Open XML. Central-directory-at-end structure, path traversal (`../../`), and zip bombs are critical security concerns.
XML remains embedded in enterprise integrations, document formats, and legacy APIs. Namespaces, entity expansion (XXE), and DTD processing are security-critical in parsers.
PDF is the standard for invoices, reports, contracts, and printable documents. Object/stream structure, encryption, and embedded content matter for parsing, redaction, and security review.