Exterior doors in homes and other buildings are used in every culture on Earth, with a lot of variation between different types and styles. For example, in some cultures exterior doors serve a purely practical purpose, and are used for security, privacy, and safety. However, in other cultures there are other concerns that may also come into play. In some Asian nations for example, while exterior doors are also used for practical reasons, they also serve a purpose in welcoming guests and spirits into a home. A great deal of energy is put into front door placement and design in the Feng Shui tradition, where doors signify the opening of the home and the soul and the linking of interior and exterior space. entrance doors are also commonly used as a status symbol, with large homes generally having much bigger and more ornate doors.

The earliest record of doors comes from Egyptian tombs, where both single and double doors were used to seal the tomb. Ancient doors were normally hung by pivots at the top and bottom of the hanging stile, with sockets used to hang the doors. Ancient Greek and Roman doors were also normally either single or double, although there is some evidence of sliding doors and folding doors during this time. The Greek scholar Heron of Alexandria is normally credited with the earliest example of an automatic door, in the 1st century during the era of Roman Egypt. However, the first foot sensor activated automatic door was made in China. Doors have been in use around the world for as long as there have been buildings, although the construction of most designs have a number of similarities all around the world.

Some of the most common types of doors include French doors, barn doors, blind doors, flush doors, moulded doors, ledge doors, bifold doors, folding doors, hinged doors, and sliding doors. Doors that are hinged on the vertical axis are the most common around the world, although a number of differences exist between cultures in terms of ornamentation and design. In some countries, it is common practice to illustrate doors with patterns and symbols, while other cultures keep their doors simple and basic. Entrance doors play an important role in every civilization on Earth, both as a way to protect and secure and as a way to welcome people in and out of a home.