What is Hypertext?

Have you ever though that using which method you are able to navigate from one document to other by just clicking on a text, images, etc? It is possible because of Hypertext.

So, exactly what is hypertext and how does it works? If you are unaware of the answer to such queries, don’t worry. You are at the right place. Answers to such queries will be given in this article. But, before starting with that, let’s go through the list of topics, listed under the table of contents (TOC) that we will cover in this article.

Table of Contents (TOC)

• What is Hypertext?
• How does Hypertext Works?
• Advantages
• Disadvantages
• Difference Between Hypertext and Hypermedia
• Conclusion

What is Hypertext?

Definition: Hypertext is a method of structuring and linking digital documents, allowing users to quickly and easily navigate between related pieces of information.

It acts as a backbone of WWW (World Wide Web) and allows users to jump from one piece of information to another related piece of information. The jump can be within the same document or to a completely different document that user wants to know about.

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In layman’s term, hypertext refers to text that contains links to other pieces of text, called hyperlinks.

Hypertext Example:

In order to understand it in a better way, let’s go through an example. Before reaching this point, you must have seen the Table of Contents (TOC) listed above. If you had clicked on any of the terms or topics in blue, you would have jumped to that exact section you wanted to read.

Suppose you haven’t tried it till now. Give it a shot. Just click “Here,” and you will understand what I meant!

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How does Hypertext Works?

Hypertext creates a network of interconnected documents, also known as nodes. These nodes can be accessed and navigated through the use of hyperlinks. Each node (document) consists of text, images, videos, or other multimedia content and can contain hyperlinks to other nodes.

When users click on a hyperlink within a node, they are taken to a different node or different section of the original node containing related information. This creates a web of interconnected information through which users can easily navigate and find the information they need.

In simple terms, it is like a web of pages where each page can have links to other pages, making it easy to jump from one page to another and find related information.

Advantages of Hypertext

Here are some of the advantages:

• Improves the overall user experience
• Saves time by eliminating the need for manual searching
• Allows users to quickly and easily move between related documents or information
• Allows users to access a wide range of information from different sources in one place
• Enables users to explore and discover information in a more flexible and interactive way by embeding multimedia elements, such as audio, video, images, animations, etc.

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Disadvantages of Hypertext 

Here are some of the disadvantages:

• It can slow down the loading time of a webpage.
• It is difficult for a differently able person to access.
• Hypertexts can result in poor user experience if the embedded link (hyperlink) is faulty, broken, or the document is moved, etc.
• Hackers might use hypertext in order to perform malicious activities, such as a cyber attack, as it is vulnerable to hacking and cyber-attacks.

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Difference Between Hypertext and Hypermedia 

Many of us get confused between these two terms – hypertext and hypermedia. Hence, to better understand, let’s explore the difference between these two in a tabular format. Here’s the table:

Here are the key differences between hypertext and hypermedia:

• Hypermedia can attract more no users.
• Hypermedia provides a more pleasing user experience to the users.
• Hypertext involves only text, whereas hypermedia involves various other media, such as graphics, video, audio, etc.
• Hypermedia is the superior entity which is the advanced version of hypertext. Whereas hypertext is part of hypermedia, i.e., it comes under hypermedia.
• Hypertext refers to the system of managing information related to plain text. On the other hand, hypermedia refers to connecting hypertext with other media, such as sound, image, animations, etc.

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed everything there is to know regarding the topic. We have discussed hypertext’s working, examples, advantages, etc. If you have any queries related to the topic, please feel free to send your query to us through a comment. We will be happy to help.

Happy Learning!!