A word processor program is an application program that provides word processing functions. The most basic of them include input, editing, formatting, and output of rich text.
Word processor programs running on general purpose computers, including smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers.
The functions of a word processor program are typically between those of a simple text editor and a desktop publishing program; Many word processing programs have gained advanced features over time providing similar functionality to desktop publishing programs.
Common word processor programs include LibreOffice Writer, Google Docs and Microsoft Word.
History
The first known electronic word processor program was Electric Pencil, released in 1976, as a tool for programmers to write documentation and manuals for their code. Electric pencil featured basic formatting and navigation, and supported external devices such as cassette recorders and printers. Electric Pencil II was released shortly after, targeting the CP/M operating system. Several other word processing programs were released shortly after, including EasyWriter and WordStar.4
WordStar was created in four months by Seymour Rubinstein after founding MicroPro International in 1978. WordStar is commonly attributed as the first WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editor, as the WordStar editor replicated the printed output.
Inspired by the success of WordStar by 1982 many competitors began to release their offerings,5 including WordPerfect in 1979, MultiMate in 1982, and Microsoft Word in 1983.67
List of word processor programs
Notable programs include:
List of word processor programs| Word processor | Year |
|---|---|
| Electric Pencil | 1976 |
| WordStar | 1978 |
| WordPerfect | 1979 |
| EasyWriter | 1979 |
| IBM DisplayWrite | 1981 |
| MultiMate | 1982 |
| Volkswriter | 1982 |
| Microsoft Word | 1983 |
| MacWrite | 1984 |
| StarWriter | 1985 |
| Lotus Manuscript | 1986 |
| TextMaker | 1987 |
| Sprint | 1987 |
| IBM Lotus Word Pro | 1988 |
| Nisus Writer | 1989 |
| InPage | 1994 |
| WordPad | 1995 |
| TextEdit | 1996 |
| Ability Write | 1996 |
| KWord | 1998 |
| AbiWord | 1998 |
| Adobe InCopy | 1999 |
| Atlantis Word Processor | 2000 |
| Jarte | 2001 |
| OpenOffice.org Writer | 2002 |
| Pages | 2005 |
| JWPce | 2005 |
| Google Docs | 2006 |
| Scrivener | 2007 |
| WordGrinder | 2007 |
| PolyEdit | 2010 |
| LibreOffice Writer | 2011 |
| Apache OpenOffice Writer | 2012 |
| Calligra Words | 2012 |
| Collabora Online | 2016 |
A word processing function is an essential part of an office suite, for example Writer in LibreOffice and Word in Microsoft Office. With the emergence of the internet, cloud-based word processor programs emerged, such as Google Docs enabling people to more easily work remotely and collaboratively. Later on other online word processors such as Microsoft Office on the web and Collabora Online became available.
See also
External links
References
Bruce Byfield. "Advanced Layout with LibreOffice Writer". linux-magazine.com. Retrieved 12 March 2025. https://www.linux-magazine.com/Online/Features/Advanced-Layout-with-LibreOffice-Writer ↩
Amanda Presley (28 January 2010). "What Distinguishes Desktop Publishing From Word Processing?". Brighthub.com. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019. https://www.brighthub.com/multimedia/publishing/articles/62697.aspx ↩
"How to Use Microsoft Word as a Desktop Publishing Tool". PCWorld. 28 May 2012. Archived from the original on 19 August 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2018. https://www.pcworld.com/article/256204/how_to_use_microsoft_word_as_a_desktop_publishing_tool.html ↩
Bergin, Thomas J. (October 2006). "The Origins of Word Processing Software for Personal Computers: 1976-1985". IEEE Annals of the History of Computing. 28 (4): 32–47. doi:10.1109/MAHC.2006.76. ISSN 1934-1547. S2CID 18895790. Retrieved 29 June 2022. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/4042484 ↩
Freiberger, Paul; Dvorak, John C. (1982-04-12). "West Coast Computer Faire draws 40,000 people". InfoWorld. pp. 1, 6–7. Retrieved 2025-03-16. https://books.google.com/books?id=YjAEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA3&pg=PA1#v=onepage&q&f=true ↩
Bergin, Thomas J. (October 2006). "The Origins of Word Processing Software for Personal Computers: 1976-1985". IEEE Annals of the History of Computing. 28 (4): 32–47. doi:10.1109/MAHC.2006.76. ISSN 1934-1547. S2CID 18895790. Retrieved 29 June 2022. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/4042484 ↩
Bergin, Thomas J. (October 2006). "The Proliferation and Consolidation of Word Processing Software: 1985-1995". IEEE Annals of the History of Computing. 28 (4): 48–63. doi:10.1109/MAHC.2006.77. ISSN 1934-1547. S2CID 20785663. Retrieved 29 June 2022. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/4042485 ↩