Text editor

A text editor is a usually simple piece of computer software for editing plain text, usually in ASCII format. It is to be distinguished from a word processor in that it does not manage document formatting or other features of more powerful programs. Such programs are often bundled with an operating system or software development package.

Some text editors are small and simple, while others offer a broad and complex range of functionality. For example, machines with Unix-like systems typically use vi or Emacs to edit many system configuration files which are in plain text, while Microsoft Windows systems use the Notepad program.

Common uses included editing operating system and application configuration files and editing programming language source code.

Commonly used editors: ed, edt, edlin, Emacs, pico, qed, Red (an editor for VAX/VMS, written in the Forth variant STOIC), sam?, teco, Vi, VIM.

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