A text editor is a program used to create and edit plain text files, often for programming purposes. It lacks formatting options and can be line or screen-oriented. Advanced features are available, and it can handle large files.
A text editor is a simple computer program that allows users to create, edit, or edit plain text files. It can be used to create computer programs, edit the source code of programming languages, edit hypertext markup language (HTML), and create web pages or web design templates. This software is more commonly used today for programming purposes, rather than creating documents, as it was in the past.
Only plain text can be entered in a text editor, unlike formatted text in a rich text editor or word processor. These programs allow for special features such as bold, italic, and various text and font sizes. The editor displays only the characters visible in the file, while word processors add special formatting characters that are not visible in the document. One that only accepts plain text doesn’t allow the user to format that text or add images or tables.
Most modern computers come with a text editor installed, usually of the most basic kind. There are also many available for download or purchase. Some have the ability to function as a word processor as well, depending on the user’s need or preference.
Text editors can generally be placed into one of two distinct categories: line editors and screen-oriented editors. Line editors are not used as frequently as screen-oriented editors and require the user to specify a particular line of text before making changes. Screen-oriented editors, sometimes called full-screen editors, provide the ability to edit any text visible on the screen by moving the cursor to its location.
The most common features available in these programs include the ability to cut and paste text, copy text, create a bulleted list, wrap text to the next line, and undo or redo the last command. Some offer more advanced features, such as the ability to set up macros or command keys for editing the source code. Advanced text editors are preferred by programmers and usually include features not needed for basic text editing.
A text editor also offers the ability to read and edit very large files and open them quickly. This is necessary for many professional computer applications, as they contain files that may be too large for the computer’s main memory to handle. Log files and source code files are examples of large files that administrators or professional computer users may need to view or edit.
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