Office suite

In computing, an office suite, sometimes called an office application suite, productivity suite, offimatic suite or integrated offimatic program, is a software suite intended to be used by typical clerical and knowledge workers. The components are generally distributed together and able to interact with each other on a higher level than the operating system would normally allow, with a consistent user interface between the components.

Most office application suites include at least a word processor and a spreadsheet element. In addition to these, the suite may contain a presentation program, a basic database, graphics and communications tools. Newer variations on the office applications suite include an email client, a personal information manager (or groupware package) and/or a graphics suite.

The currently dominant office suite is Microsoft Office, the proprietary file formats of which have become a de facto standard for mainstream business use, resulting in vendor lock-in. As such, the ability to read and write Microsoft Office files in the formats is essential for any office suite seeking to displace Microsoft Office in the market.

See also

• List of office suites
• Comparison of office suites