HTML editor

A HTML editor is an software application for creating web pages. Although the HTML markup of a web page can be written with any text editor, specialised HTML editors can offer convenience and added functionality. For example, many HTML editors can work not only with HTML, but also with related technologies such as CSS, XML and JavaScript or ECMAScript. In some cases they can also manage communication with remote web servers via FTP and WebDAV, and version management systems such as CVS or Subversion.

Types

There are two flavors of HTML editors: text and What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG).

Text editors

Text editors usually provide syntax highlighting. Toolbars and keyboard shortcuts may quickly insert common HTML elements and structures. Wizards, tooltip prompts and auto-completion may help with common tasks.

Text editors require at least a basic understanding of HTML and CSS[starting with HTML + CSS].

WYSIWYG editors

So-called WYSIWYG editors provide an editing interface which resembles how the page will be displayed in a web browser. Most WYSIWIG editors also have a mode to edit HTML directly like a text HTML editor. Because using a WYSIWYG editor does not require any HTML knowledge they are easier for an average computer user to get started with.

The WYSIWYG view is achieved by embedding a layout engine based upon that used in a web browser. The layout engine will have been considerably enhanced by the editor's developers to allow for typing, pasting, deleting and moving the content. The goal is that, at all times during editing, the rendered result should represent what will be seen later in a typical web browser.

WYSIWIG editors are sometimes criticized because:

* They generally do not generate the most efficient HTML and CSS code.
* Users may be disappointed that the same page is rendered differently in different browsers