A word processor is a program designed for creating and editing business and personal documents that are primarily text-based. Most modern word processors enable you to customize fonts and formatting - and they often include images and other multimedia files - such as videos and audio clips. The most popular word processing program is Microsoft Word, but other options such as Google Docs, LibreOffice Writer and Apple Pages also have a following.
Understanding Word Processing Programs
Word processing software is used to create and edit text documents, including business reports, student homework and even creative works such as novels, poems and screenplays.
Essentially, all word processing programs in use today enable you to use a diverse variety of font and text-formatting options, including multi-colored text, document headers, as well as footers and the ability to choose different text size and spacing options. Earlier examples of word processor software had fewer options.
Many word processing tools available today also enable you to embed other types of files within your document, including photos, charts as well as video and audio files. You can also generally link to web-based content from within word processing documents. Many also now include support for real-time collaboration between people on different computers.
Using Microsoft Word
First released in 1983, Microsoft Word has become the most popular word processing tool in the world. It is available for Microsoft Windows, Apple macOS and for smart phones and tablets running Apple iOS, plus Google's Android operating system. It's generally considered the standard word processing tool in fields that range from law to education.
An online version is also available as part of Microsoft Office 365, which enables users to collaborate remotely on documents and then to store them on Microsoft's cloud servers.
Microsoft Word's features, icons and overall design are imitated within the world of word processing software - so that someone accustomed to another word processor can quickly adapt to Word - and vice versa. It's part of the Microsoft Office software suite of business and productivity software, along with other popular programs, such as Microsoft Excel - the spreadsheet program - and Microsoft Outlook, used for email and calendars.
Understanding Google Docs
One of the biggest rivals to Microsoft Word is Google Docs, which is an online word processing program developed by Google. It was one of the first word processing tools to enable real-time online collaboration, and it's available to use for free, gaining a strong loyal following among many users.
There are also paid versions of Google Docs available with more features designed for businesses and sharing documents within companies as part of Google's G Suite productivity suite, which is essentially Google's rival to Microsoft Word.
Free and Open Source Tools
The open source community, which creates software that's free to use and even to modify, has come up with a number of word processors. Others are simply available for free. Probably the most well known are LibreOffice Writer and OpenOffice Writer, part of two related suites of productivity software designed for compatibility with Microsoft Word. They're largely compatible with Microsoft Word.
Some other free word processors, like FocusWriter and WriteMonkey, are deliberately designed to be simple, offering fewer formatting choices in exchange for a simpler, and likely less distracting, interface.
Word Processors and Text Editors
There are also programs called text editors that allow for editing of text but provide little or no formatting options at all, besides things like line breaks and punctuation. They output raw text files with no fonts or other data.
They're frequently used by programmers looking to edit code and configuration files and by anyone who needs to quickly edit a plain text file. Examples include Notepad and NotePad++ on Windows, TextEdit on the Mac and cross-platform rival open source tools Emacs and Vim.
Word Processor Compatibility Issues
Most word processing software can input and output files in a few standard formats, including various Microsoft Word file formats, the standard format called Rich Text Format, plain text files without any formatting and PDF files.
Still, there can be some differences in how different word processing software displays and prints the same file, so it can be useful to make sure you're using the same tools as your colleagues, especially when you're working with complex formatting.
Examples :
- Google Docs: What's New in Google Docs?
- TMCNet: The Enduring Popularity of Microsoft Word
- Microsoft: Office Online
- TechRadar: The Best Free Word Processor 2019
- Lifewire: 10 Free Word Processors
- Google: G Suite
- Sourceror: Vim, Emacs and Their Forever War. Does It Even Matter Any More?
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