WYSIWYG
Technology & Computing abbreviation · Computer
| Stands for | What you see is what you get |
|---|---|
| Categories | Technology & Computing |
WYSIWYG stands for What you see is what you get, a computer abbreviation.
Describes editors that show content on screen as it will look when printed or published, such as word processors, desktop publishing tools and visual web builders. Users format text directly instead of writing markup or formatting codes.
Example: The CMS has a WYSIWYG editor, so staff can bold text and add images without touching HTML.
Usage notes
Pronounced "WIZ-ee-wig". The catchphrase was popularized by comedian Flip Wilson's character Geraldine around 1970, and Xerox PARC's Bravo editor (1974) is often cited as the first WYSIWYG word processor. The contrasting approach, WYSIWYM ("what you see is what you mean"), describes structure-focused editors such as LyX, where the author marks headings and the software handles appearance.
Related abbreviations
More computer abbreviations
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- Alt – Alternate key
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- BOM – Byte order mark
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- BYOD – Bring your own device
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