text formatting language

computer science

Also known as: text formatter

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The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

A markup language is a system for encoding text that uses symbols to control a document's structure, formatting, and the relationships between its parts. These symbols, or tags, are interpreted by devices like computers or printers to display or print the document as intended.12

Common examples include HTML and XML.1

TeX, developed by Donald Knuth, is a text formatting language that embeds commands within plain text. These commands are processed to produce a formatted document, offering precise control over elements like fonts, tables, and mathematical notation. It is often used with macro packages like LaTeX.34

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word processor
Programs known as text formatters give more control over document layout and appearance, especially for scientific and mathematical documents, than do word processors. On the other hand, these programs, like TeX and LaTeX, are much more difficult to learn, requiring an author to embed formatting commands directly in…
Read More
Programs known as text formatters give more control over document layout and appearance, especially for scientific and mathematical documents, than do word processors. On the other hand, these programs, like TeX and LaTeX, are much more difficult to learn, requiring an author to embed formatting commands directly in…
Read More