When a shared document's content might get accidentally erased
When multiple people share a document and content getting accidentally deleted or formatting getting scrambled is a concern, restricting it in advance so that only a specific kind of editing is allowed solves the problem.
The whole document can be locked while specific parts stay open
Locking a document does not have to be all-or-nothing. Under Exceptions in the same panel, specific ranges of text -- such as a table meant for reviewer input -- can be selected and left editable for everyone or for a named group, while everything else stays locked under the chosen restriction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the restriction be removed later?
Yes -- open the same Restrict Editing panel, click Stop Protection near the bottom, and enter the password that was set to remove the restriction.
What happens if the password is forgotten?
There is no standard way to recover a forgotten restriction password, so the document stays locked to that editing type. Keeping the password somewhere safe when it is set is important.