• Web authoring software is used to write HTML documents and create web pages and sites. HTML documents are simple text files that can be generated with HTML/XHTML editors and WYSIWYG HTML editors.
  
  Using web authoring software can help build web pages faster, an advantage if you are facing a deadline or a large project. There are several different types of web authoring software you can use to make great web pages without having to know all of the ins and outs of web page creation.
  
  

HTML/XHTML Editors

• Using HTML/XHTML editors require that you know how to write HTML. These editors will save some time because they will set up documents, but they won't offer guidance in HTML writing. Professional programmers and web designers and those who have experience writing HTML use these editors.
  
  

WYSIWYG Editors

• WYSIWYG stands for What You See Is What You Get. These editors are easily accessible and can be used by novice and professionals alike. WSIWYG editors cut down on the amount of time it takes to write code; beginners will have no problem using these tools and may even learn HTML in the process. The pages are laid out, and the code is available for viewing.
  
  Some web designers and computer programmers think that the code produced by WYSIWYG editors is inferior to code written by hand, and some WYSIWYG's are expensive.
  
  

Types of WYSIWYG Editors

• HTML-Kit
  
  HTML-Kit can be used to build web pages and sites. It has text editing and File Transfer Protocol to help you get the web pages online. You can also preview web pages before they are published. HTML-Kit is free and designed for web developers but offers support for HTML writing.
  
  Notepad ++
  
  Notepad ++ is a great place for novice users to learn about HTML quickly. Using Notepad++ will allow you to complete web pages and see the HTML that is used to make them. This editor will correct mistakes and provides syntax highlighting to call attention to the HTML.
  
  Amaya Web Browsing and Authoring
  
  Amaya Web Browsing and Authoring is a web tool that allows users to create and publish web pages without knowing anything about HTML. It is a free tool and can be used by Mac, Windows and Unix users.
  
  Visit the "Resources" section for links to the editors mentioned above.