Autotyping is a feature in some browsers and software programs that automatically enters frequently duplicated information. It can be turned off or deleted and is designed to save time and increase accuracy. Autotype can also work in word processors and suggest commonly used words and phrases. The term “autotype” is also used for printing processes.
Auto-typing is a feature available in some browsers and software programs where frequently duplicated information, such as names and addresses, can be automatically entered for the user. It can also be known by names like autocomplete or autofill, and can be turned off or deleted if people don’t want you to save information. By default, it usually doesn’t save credit card numbers and other potentially sensitive data, in case another person uses the same software.
With some versions of autotype, once the person fills out a form once, it will save the information and automatically enter it in all future forms, assuming the fields in the form are named correctly so the program knows what information to enter and Where. Others don’t autofill forms, but as people start typing, the first few characters can turn into a prompt for an entire word or line; “Jane Smith”, for example, starts typing “Ja-” and the system displays “Jane Smith”. People can clear the field if they want to enter a different name.
By entering the application settings, people can delete or edit the data saved for auto-typing. A person moving, for example, might delete the old address and enter the new one for convenience. This feature is designed to save time and also increase accuracy, as people won’t accidentally submit forms with errors if they’re automatically filled in with the correct information. It can also be useful for people using mobile devices, where having information pre-populated can save time, as well as prevent problems with a small keyboard.
Some autotypes can also work in word processors, providing prompts for commonly used words and phrases. If a suggested phrase or word is correct, the user can press enter or space to have the computer type it automatically. If not, the user can keep typing to get the correct word, and the program will usually save this information for future reference. Autocomplete, a slightly different feature, will suggest words or phrases based on a common database, rather than specifically compiling information that someone has already generated.
The term “autotype” is also used unrelatedly to refer to some types of printing processes, usually for the production of photographs and halftone prints. In autotype, a carbon coating is used on a plate to prepare it for exposure and processing so it can be used to print replicas of images, including photographs, vector graphics, and so on. These two uses of the term come from different origins, and the meaning intended when people encounter the word is usually clear from the context.
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