WYSIWYM, an acronym for "What You See Is What You Mean," is a term commonly used in the field of computing, specifically in the context of text editing and document preparation. It refers to a philosophy or approach that aims to provide users with a means to visualize and manipulate documents in a way that accurately represents their intended meaning and structure.
In contrast to WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get), WYSIWYM focuses more on the semantics and structure rather than the visual appearance of documents. Instead of directly displaying the final visual output, WYSIWYM editors typically offer a representation of the underlying structure, allowing users to focus on the content and its meaning while fostering a separation between content and presentation.
By adopting WYSIWYM techniques, users can easily generate structured documents with proper organization and formatting without getting tangled up in complex markup languages or extensive formatting options. This approach is particularly prevalent in the field of academic writing, where complex documents require consistent and well-defined structures for research papers, thesis documents, or scholarly manuscripts.
WYSIWYM editors often employ features such as easy navigation through document sections, interactive outlining, automated referencing, and the ability to apply styles and templates. These functionalities allow users to focus on the logical and hierarchical organization of their content, facilitating efficient editing and ensuring the document conveys the intended meaning accurately.
Overall, WYSIWYM represents a user-centric philosophy that enhances the clarity and semantic correctness of documents by providing a transparent and intuitive environment for content creation and manipulation.
