What is the ODF file format?
Files with the .odf extension store standalone mathematical formulas and equations, belonging to the OpenDocument Format family of open document standards.
What do ODF files contain?
Most often, the contents of .odf files are mathematical formulas created in the equation editor named Math, which is part of the LibreOffice and Apache OpenOffice suites. LibreOffice Math and Apache OpenOffice Math enable the authoring of even complex mathematical expressions and the typesetting of their results. Files with the .odf extension store formula content encoded in MathML-based XML, packaged inside a ZIP archive that also contains metadata, style definitions, and a manifest listing all entries.
The ODF standard was ratified by OASIS in 2005 and published as ISO/IEC 26300. The formula markup sits in a file named content.xml inside the package, making .odf files interoperable across any application that supports the standard.
What are ODF files used for?
Files with the .odf extension are used to store mathematical models or formulas for use across the LibreOffice and Apache OpenOffice suites. This software allows for the import of content from .odf files into other components of the suite - for example, the word processor (*Writer*) or the multimedia presentation program (*Impress*). In this way, formulas from .odf files become embedded objects, which can be used both for presenting ready-made data and for displaying equations in documents not originally created in a dedicated math editor.
Can I create my own ODF files?
LibreOffice Math and Apache OpenOffice Math allow users to create their own .odf files. This can be done in the Math module by using markers available from the equation editor, symbols from the toolbox, or the context menu. This enables the creation of sets of equations and formulas, which are then saved to .odf files compatible with any ODF-supporting application, including LibreOffice Writer documents.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWOpen, standardised ZIP/XML format; no macro execution capability in formula files. Safe to open.
Format details
in a nutshell- ODIF - Open Document Interchange Format - 1980s ISO 8613 binary transport format for Office Document Architecture documents; predates and is entirely unrelated to the OASIS ODF standard.
Programs that open ODF files
Windows4 apps
Apache OpenOffice
Open-source Open with OpenOffice Math (part of the suite). File > Open, select the .odf file. 
Microsoft Office
Paid Microsoft Office does not natively open .odf formula files. Use LibreOffice to convert to DOCX first. 
LibreOffice Writer
Open-source Insert > Object > Formula can embed ODF formula files in Writer documents. 
LibreOffice Math
Open-source Double-click the ODF file; LibreOffice Math opens and displays the formula. Part of the LibreOffice suite. 
macOS2 apps
Linux2 apps
LibreOffice Math
Open-source Open with LibreOffice Math; often the default handler for .odf on Linux desktop environments. 
Google Drive / Google Docs
Free Upload the .odf file to Google Drive; Google does not natively preview ODF formula files - download and open locally in LibreOffice. Technical details
deep spec| Container | ZIP archive (same outer structure as all OpenDocument Format types) |
| Primary content file | `content.xml` - MathML-based formula markup in ODF math XML namespace |
| MIME type | `application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.formula` |
| Encoding | Binary outer ZIP; UTF-8 encoded XML files inside |
| ZIP magic bytes | `PK` (0x50 0x4B 0x03 0x04) at offset 0; `mimetype` entry near offset 38 contains MIME string |
| Compression | DEFLATE per-entry ZIP compression (inner XML files are compressed) |
| Manifest | `META-INF/manifest.xml` lists all package entries and encryption metadata |
| Encryption | Optional AES-256 per-entry encryption (ODF 1.2+); key derivation via PBKDF2 |
| Integrity | ZIP CRC-32 per entry; SHA-256 checksums in manifest for encrypted content (ODF 1.2+) |
| Version attribute | `office:version` in `content.xml` declares ODF version (e.g., "1.3") |
| Standardization | OASIS OpenDocument Format; also ISO/IEC 26300 |
| Typical file size | Under 50 KB (formula files are compact) |
| Embeddable in | ODF text documents (.odt), spreadsheets (.ods), and presentations (.odp) as inline formula objects |
| Released | 2005 (ODF 1.0, OASIS standard) |
| Latest version | ODF 1.3 (OASIS, 2021); ISO/IEC 26300-1:2021 |
| Open standard | Yes · royalty-free |
| Specification | www.oasis-open.org |
ODF conversions
Community Q&A
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