# Document modes

> Choose whether people can view, edit, or suggest changes to a DOCX.



Document modes control how a person can interact with the open DOCX. Choose the mode that matches the task, then change it as the workflow moves from authoring to review.

| Mode         | What a person can do                        | Use it for                      |
| ------------ | ------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------- |
| `editing`    | Change the document directly                | Authoring and form-like editing |
| `suggesting` | Make edits recorded as tracked changes      | Review and approval workflows   |
| `viewing`    | Read and select content without changing it | Previews and read-only review   |

`editing` is the default.

## Try the modes [#try-the-modes]

Switch the same document between View, Edit, and Suggest. Editing changes the DOCX directly, suggesting records new edits for review, and viewing prevents changes.

> **Interactive editor: Try document modes**
>
> Sample: [open the fixture](/fixtures/tracked-changes.docx).
> Preset: `document-modes`.
> Mode switching: viewing, editing, and suggesting.
> Local DOCX selection: disabled.


## Set the initial mode [#set-the-initial-mode]

Pass `documentMode` when you create the editor. This example opens the document in suggesting mode so every new edit is reviewable:

```ts
import { SuperDoc } from 'superdoc';
import 'superdoc/style.css';

const superdoc = new SuperDoc({
  selector: '#editor',
  document: '/documents/contract.docx',
  documentMode: 'suggesting',
  user: {
    name: 'Jordan Lee',
    email: 'jordan@example.com',
  },
});
```

Provide the current `user` when edits need an author. SuperDoc preserves that author with the tracked changes in the exported DOCX.

## Change modes after the editor is ready [#change-modes-after-the-editor-is-ready]

Use `setDocumentMode()` to move the same editor between authoring, review, and read-only states:

```ts
const superdoc = new SuperDoc({
  selector: '#editor',
  document: '/documents/contract.docx',
  onReady: ({ superdoc }) => {
    superdoc.setDocumentMode('suggesting');
  },
});

superdoc.on('document-mode-change', ({ documentMode }) => {
  console.log(`Document mode: ${documentMode}`);
});
```

`setDocumentMode()` requires a ready editor. Use the initial `documentMode` option when the mode is known before loading, or call the method from `onReady` and later application events.

## Show tracked changes in viewing mode [#show-tracked-changes-in-viewing-mode]

Viewing mode is read-only. By default, it shows the document before its tracked changes were applied. Enable tracked-change visibility when a read-only reviewer should still see the proposed edits:

```ts
new SuperDoc({
  selector: '#editor',
  document: '/documents/contract.docx',
  documentMode: 'viewing',
  modules: {
    trackChanges: {
      visible: true,
    },
  },
});
```

> **Modes are not access control (note)**
>
> Document modes control editor behavior in the browser. Your application still owns authentication, authorization, and
> access to the DOCX file.


Next, try the [Editor tracked-change review workflow](/editor/review/tracked-changes), build a [code-to-human review handoff](/agents/workflows/review-tracked-changes), or return to [loading and saving documents](/editor/load-and-save-documents).