What You See Is What You Get

What does What You See Is What You Get mean?

“What You See Is What You Get” (WYSIWYG) is a concept in Computing where the visual representation of an electronic document or application matches its final output. In other words, the User interface presents an accurate preview of how the document or application will appear in its finished form.

WYSIWYG editors allow users to create and edit documents without the need for specialized knowledge of formatting or coding. The interface typically consists of a visual display that shows the document’s content, with tools and features that enable the user to make changes directly within the display.

WYSIWYG is particularly important in web design and development, where it allows users to preview the appearance of a website before it goes live. It is also widely used in Word processing, presentation software, and other content creation applications.

Applications

WYSIWYG has become an essential feature in technology for several key reasons:

• Ease of Use: WYSIWYG interfaces greatly simplify content creation and editing by removing the need for users to manually code or manipulate complex formatting options.
• Accuracy: The visual representation in WYSIWYG editors ensures that the final output accurately reflects the user’s intentions, reducing errors and the need for rework.
• Time-Saving: Visual previews eliminate the guesswork and trial-and-error often associated with document formatting, saving users significant time.
• Consistency: WYSIWYG editors enforce consistent formatting across different sections of a document, ensuring a professional and cohesive appearance.
• Accessibility: WYSIWYG editors enable users with varying levels of technical expertise to create high-quality content without extensive training or coding skills.

History

The concept of WYSIWYG originated in the late 1960s and early 1970s with the development of text editors such as Bravo and Gypsy. These editors allowed users to see the formatted text as they typed it, rather than having to rely on separate formatting commands.

In the 1980s, WYSIWYG word processors such as Microsoft Word and WordPerfect gained widespread adoption. These applications introduced a graphical user interface (GUI) that made it easier for users to manipulate text, images, and other elements.

The advent of the World Wide Web in the 1990s further accelerated the development of WYSIWYG editors. HTML editors such as Adobe Dreamweaver and Microsoft FrontPage enabled web designers to create visually appealing websites without the need for manual coding.

Today, WYSIWYG remains a fundamental concept in technology, with applications ranging from text editing to web design, video editing, and graphic design. The ability to preview content accurately has become an essential aspect of the user experience, empowering individuals to create and share high-quality digital content with ease and efficiency.