Text vs. WYSIWYG Editors: Which one do you need?

Allen Smith      – Raleigh, NC
123Triad: Web Design & SEO Company

Text vs. WYSIWYG Editors: Which one do you need?

It’s one of the oldest questions in the industry, but it continues to confuse many web designers. Do you really need a preview of your website as you go, or is it more “professional” to work entirely in code? This guide runs you through the pros and cons of each one to help you make the right choice.

Text editors
Technically, anyone can build a site armed with nothing but Notepad. But obviously, you need to know your code if you want to build something that’s at least functional. If you’re new to web design or aren’t willing to learn HTML, you’re definitely better off with a WYSIWYG program.

Pros:
-Lower cost. You may have to pay for programs with more features, but generally speaking, text editors cost a lot less—or even free if you go for open-source programs.
-Better flexibility. Most designers use text editors when they need extra flexibility for importing scripts, using non-standard layouts, and embedding media and applications.

Cons:
-Skill requirement. You’ll need to learn HTML and at least a bit of other scripts, such as cascading style sheets (CSS). You’ll also have to update yourself every time new standards are released.
-Previewing. Whenever you want to see your page, you have to save your code and open a browser. Switching between windows can be time-consuming, especially if you’re working on a large site.

WYSIWYG editors
The acronym stands for “what you see is what you get.” Basically, that means you see more or less what your page will look like as you work. But note the operative term “more or less”—no program, even the most advanced ones, can give you a 100% accurate preview. While it’s usually enough for casual designers, the little differences can be a problem for high-end websites.

Pros:
-Direct editing. WYSIWYG editors are designed like word processors—you can edit directly on the page instead of switching to the browser and back again.
-Beginner-friendly. You don’t have to know all the tags, attributes, and values, as there are buttons to do all that for you. You can even use ready-made templates and simply fill in your content.

Cons:
-Cost. The average WYSIWYG editor costs upwards of $300, and you can expect to pay hundreds more for more advanced features.

-Lack of functionality. Not all WYSIWYG editors are made to work with external scripts like PHP. In most cases, you’ll need to work in code some of the time to fix scripting errors.

123Triad webdesign offers affordable custom website design. Our full service website design company only hires certified website designers. Please contact us today on 1-800-720-0816 for your next web site design project.

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