Supportsoft Glossary

Visual Editing Without Coding

When users create digital content using WYSIWYG (what-you-see-is-what-you-get) editing tools, they see a visual representation of the content in front of them as they create it and can modify it to look exactly like the final version. This enables non-technical users to create digital content easily, rather than writing codes.

These types of editors are widely integrated into content management systems, website builders, email marketing solutions, document editor apps, etc. Users can format their text, insert images or videos, and adjust the layout of their content as they edit in real time rather than waiting for changes to be pushed live. The immediate feedback of WYSIWYG editors increases the speed of workflows and requires less reliance on developers to complete routine updates for the organisation.

However, despite the ease of use and increased efficiency of WYSIWYG editors, care must be taken when designing an editor; WYSIWYG editors that have been poorly designed can be the cause of bloated, inconsistent code, which can hinder performance or Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). Many of the latest WYSIWYG editing tools have addressed these issues by creating a clearer underlying structure while retaining the visual control offered by a WYSIWYG editor.

By allowing a company’s content team to manage their own content, the use of WYSIWYG to build, maintain or update the organisation's public-facing content can cut costs and expedite turnaround times.