What You See Is What You Get
<jargon> (WYSIWYG) /wiz'ee-wig/ Describes a user interface for a document
preparation system under which changes are represented by displaying a
more-or-less accurate image of the way the document will finally appear, e.g.
when printed. This is in contrast to one that uses more-or-less obscure commands
that do not result in immediate visual feedback.
True WYSIWYG in environments supporting multiple fonts or graphics is
rarely-attained; there are variants of this term to express real-world
manifestations including WYSIAWYG (What You See Is *Almost* What You Get) and
WYSIMOLWYG (What You See Is More or Less What You Get). All these can be mildly
derogatory, as they are often used to refer to dumbed-down user-friendly
interfaces targeted at non-programmers; a hacker has no fear of obscure commands
(compare WYSIAYG). On the other hand, Emacs was one of the very first WYSIWYG
editors, replacing (actually, at first overlaying) the extremely obscure,
command-based TECO.
See also WIMP.
(1999-03-03)
Nearby terms:
What's a spline? « What You Get Is What You Never
Thought You Had « What You See Is All You Get «
What You See Is What You Get » wheel » wheel bit
» wheel wars
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