{"id":433782,"date":"2022-04-18T21:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-18T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/why-you-need-a-plain-text-editor\/"},"modified":"2022-04-18T21:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-04-18T18:00:00","slug":"why-you-need-a-plain-text-editor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-you-need-a-plain-text-editor\/","title":{"rendered":"#Why You Need a Plain Text Editor"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a29912442d43\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a29912442d43\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-you-need-a-plain-text-editor\/#%E2%80%9CWhy_You_Need_a_Plain_Text_Editor%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;Why You Need a Plain Text Editor&#8221;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-you-need-a-plain-text-editor\/#Rich_Text_Versus_Plain_Text\" >Rich Text Versus Plain Text<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-you-need-a-plain-text-editor\/#Why_You_Need_a_Plain_Text_Editor\" >Why You Need a Plain Text Editor<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CWhy_You_Need_a_Plain_Text_Editor%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;Why You Need a Plain Text Editor&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div>\n<figure style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"type:primaryImage wp-image-795901 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/shutterstock_245893798.png?width=398&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1 400w, https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/shutterstock_245893798.png?width=1198&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, 400w, 1200w\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/shutterstock_245893798.png?width=1198&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Plain text\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" data-crediturl=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/programmer-occupation-writing-programming-code-on-245893798\" data-credittext=\"ronstik\/Shutterstock.com\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"type:primaryImage imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/programmer-occupation-writing-programming-code-on-245893798\">ronstik\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Every job is easier if you have the right tools. So what exactly is plain text, and why might you want a plain text editor instead of a word processor?<\/p>\n<p>The world of text files can be broken up into two large categories: plain text and rich text.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rich_Text_Versus_Plain_Text\"><\/span>Rich Text Versus Plain Text<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Rich text files contain more information than just the text you write, they contain information about how that text should look on your screen. Any time you use a program to make text a specific color, add highlighting, add super<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">script<\/a> or subscript, or make a font bold or italicized, the text editor saves that information in the text file. Here\u2019s an example from Microsoft\u2019s WordPad.<\/p>\n<p>This is the text you\u2019d see on the screen.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-795725\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/size.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"What you might see in a word processor.\" width=\"650\" height=\"271\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>This picture is the actual information saved in the RTF file. Normally that information is interpreted instantly by the text editor you\u2019re working with, and you never see it directly.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-795724\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2022-04-04_09h45_25.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"What a wordprocessor really writes to a file &quot;Under the hood.&quot;\" width=\"650\" height=\"287\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Plain text is the exact opposite \u2014 any formatting parameters you include are visible and must be explicitly written out.<\/p>\n<p>Most all the configuration files applications \u2014 and operating systems \u2014 use are saved as plain text. Plain text is also the standard for writing code for scripts or for programs. Using plain text helps minimize compatibility issues and keeps file sizes to a minimum.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>What Is Plain Text?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_You_Need_a_Plain_Text_Editor\"><\/span>Why You Need a Plain Text Editor<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/general\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"3\" title=\"General\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">General<\/a>ly speaking, plain text editors shine in situations where you don\u2019t need, want, or care about automatic or fancy formatting options. They use fewer resources than sophisticated word processors, and there is no possibility of accidentally embedding formatting-related code in a file that shouldn\u2019t have any.<\/p>\n<p>The exact use cases vary \u2014 sometimes, the intelligent features of modern Word Processors might actually get in the way, like if you\u2019re writing code in a language that requires specific formatting (which is a majority of them). Microsoft Word would constantly be complaining about your spaces, your capitalization, or how you\u2019re using inappropriate punctuation because you have semicolons and paired brackets everywhere. Alternatively, you could be using a specialized typesetting language like <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LaTeX\">LaTeX<\/a>, which has specific formatting rules you need to follow.<\/p>\n<p>Other times, you just need to jot down notes, write out some ideas quickly, or edit something like the hosts file. There is no need for a Word Processor in those cases, it\u2019s like swatting flies with a sledgehammer \u2014 majorly overkill.<\/p>\n<p>Notepad is the most obvious choice for a plain text editor since it has been included with Windows for nearly 40 years. It doesn\u2019t have much in the line of additional features though, so if you\u2019re looking for something more, here are a few good all-rounders:<\/p>\n<p>All of those text editors have optional plugins available that add additional functionality, like syntax highlighting or other specialized language support, making them closer to an integrated development environment (IDE) than a word processor. They all also have large communities behind them, which means that there are constantly new features and plugins being released to account for new and changing needs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\n setTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s) } (window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n   fbq('init', '335401813750447');\n   fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/795509\/why-you-need-a-plain-text-editor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Why You Need a Plain Text Editor&#8221; ronstik\/Shutterstock.com Every job is easier if you have the right tools. So what exactly is plain text, and why might you want a plain text editor instead of a word processor? The world of text files can be broken up into two large categories: plain text and rich&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":433783,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/shutterstock_245893798.png?height=200p&trim=2,2,2,2","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-433782","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/433782","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=433782"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/433782\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/433783"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=433782"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=433782"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=433782"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}