Definition

Adjective: - Relating to a system that displays text on a screen exactly as it will appear when printed: The term "wysiwyg" describes a user interface, particularly in word processing or desktop publishing, where the content shown on the display screen precisely matches the final output, such as a printed document or a published webpage.

Usage

• Primary Use: Used as an adjective to describe software, editors, or systems.
  • This is a wysiwyg editor, so you can format your text and see the final result immediately.
  • Modern word processors are wysiwyg, unlike older text-based systems.

Advanced Usage

• As a Modifier: Often used in compound nouns to specify a type of editor or interface, though the core explanation remains for the adjective itself.
  • The website builder features a wysiwyg interface, making it easy for beginners.
• Conceptual Use: Can describe the principle or philosophy of direct, visual editing.
  • The wysiwyg philosophy revolutionized document preparation for non-technical users.

Variants and Related Words

• WYSIWYG (Acronym): Stands for "What You See Is What You Get." The word itself is this acronym.
• WYSIWYG editor (n): A specific application or tool that employs a wysiwyg system.
• Non-WYSIWYG (adj): Describing a system where the screen display does not match the final output (e.g., markup language editors).

Synonyms

• Direct-manipulation (in the context of user interfaces).
• Visual editor (though this is a description of a tool, not a direct synonym for the adjective).
• True-to-print.

Antonyms

• Code-based.
• Markup-based (e.g., using HTML or LaTeX tags that are hidden in the final view).
• Text-mode.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• "What you see is what you get": This is the full phrase from which the acronym is derived. It is sometimes used beyond computing to describe situations or people that are exactly as they appear, with no hidden aspects.
  • With him, there are no secrets. It's what you see is what you get.

Adjective

1. relating to or being a word processing system that prints the text exactly as it appears on the computer screen