Text facts for kids

Text is a word that can mean many things, but it usually refers to written words or information. Think of it as the words you read in a book, on a screen, or in a message. It's how we share ideas and stories using letters and symbols.

What is Text?

Text is basically any written information. It can be a single letter, a word, a sentence, or even a whole book. When you write something down, you are creating text.

Text in Writing

• A piece of writing is a common meaning of text. This could be a story, a poem, an essay, or even just a note you write to a friend.
• A text message is a short message sent between mobile phones. People often just say "text" when they mean a text message. It's a quick way to communicate using words.

Text in Books

• A book is a collection of printed pages bound together. The words inside the book are its text.
• A textbook is a special kind of book used for learning. Students use textbooks to study subjects like history, science, or math. They are full of facts and information.
• An e-text or e-book is a book that you can read on a computer, tablet, or e-reader. It's a digital version of a printed book, but it's still made of text.

Text in Computers

• In computers, text often means character data. This is information made up of letters, numbers, and symbols, like the words you type into a document. It's different from things like pictures or sounds.
• Plaintext is information that is not hidden or coded. It's the original message before any special formatting or encryption is added.
• Something that is text-based means it mainly uses characters and words. For example, an old computer game might be text-based if you type commands instead of clicking on pictures.
• Boilerplate text is a piece of writing that is used over and over again without much change. Think of it like a standard paragraph in a letter that you send to many different people.

Related Pages

• Letter
• Writing