Microsoft Word is a word processor program originated from a group of Xerox PARC workers in 1981 and was named the Multi-Tool Word. It was launched simultaneously with MS-DOS and Xenix and became the world’s first WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get) program. Microsoft word allows users to write and edit simple and complex .doc files, which are created from Microsoft Word for DOS, Microsoft Word for Windows 1, 2, and 6, and Microsoft Word 97. It can also edit and create the newer .docx files, from Microsoft word 2003, 2007, 2010, and 2013. These .doc and .docx files are usually used to edit and create files composed of images and text.
Microsoft Word has functions that allow the user to format the document to the user’s liking. It allows users to pick a template to save time instead of making a document from scratch. There is also the option of saving a template for use in the future, this way, if a company wants to have a specific format done they can distribute their own template, preventing the wrong format. In addition to templates, Microsoft Word has features such as spell check, word art, and Microsoft Equation Editor. Moreover, it allows users to password protect important documents, they can set to either have it read only to prevent changes or inaccessible to outsiders entirely. The key is also highly encrypted starting from Microsoft Word 2010, the protection algorithm converts the password into a 128-bit key, hashed 100,000 times. Recently Microsoft Word has come up with a speech recognition function that allows users to speak into a microphone as a replacement for manually typing everything. It also allows for a read mode, removing all the tool bars for an easier reading experience. Microsoft Word allows for programing in visual basic. Therefore, it allows for users to program their own things within limits. This also allows people to program viruses inside word document files.