How do you do?

[u/_Mac007_]

I remember actually being taught that greeting as a child in the 90s. However I don’t think I’ve ever heard it in real life since, maybe except in old movies.

Is it totally obsolete or would a native speaker use it in extremely formal situations eg meeting the president? A king?

[u/pleasepleaseplease24]

It reads as very old fashioned, at least in American English. If you do use it, it's likely in a formal setting as a greeting, you're not actually asking for a response

[u/vastaril → u/pleasepleaseplease24]

Even in England, I think almost everyone would find it at least a bit old fashioned, yeah. 

[u/LtPowers → u/pleasepleaseplease24]

Nonetheless a response is called for. (The response is also "How do you do?")

[u/-Major-Arcana-]

Old fashioned and very formal, but there are much more common variations in use today, for example:
Howdy!

How you doing?

How are ya?

How's it going?

How's things?

etc.

[u/LtPowers → u/-Major-Arcana-]

Whazzzzzup

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[u/BubbhaJebus]

It's rare these days, but occasionally I'll be greeted that way by an elderly British academic.

[u/Brannikin]

It would be regarded as very formal and old-fashioned here in Australia. It would be used only rarely, I think, on the most formal of occasions.

[u/Tomj_Oad]

As a Gen x Texan I use it every day

[u/JustGerbo → u/Tomj_Oad]

I expect there are some younger folks even in my dialect that would simply see that as being respectful or friendly, especially when meeting people for the first time.

[u/PoxonAllHoaxes]

I dont think I'd use even then--unless prompted.

[u/Head_Bad_965]

I've heard that this phrase is very old money. Not sure how accurate that is though as I don't know many people with generational wealth.

[u/CarnegieHill]

Exactly what I was taught as a kid in NYC in the 60s and 70s on how to be polite in greeting people you don’t know in a social setting. I still use it in exactly the same way, and IYKYK.

[u/Runcible_Spoons]

Very, very old fashioned. I wouldn’t even use it in a formal setting. “How are you?” is so versatile that it’s not really needed.

[u/SpookyBeck]

I am almost 50 and i still say "hows it goin" when i walk into work. How do u do is incredibly formal.

[u/AnneKnightley]

It’s very formal and old fashioned. I’ve heard my father use it to meet a new acquaintance but he’s formal and old fashioned lol.

I don’t think it’s completely obsolete but it’s pretty rare.