Text processing and word processing can be confusing because text and words seem to be the same. However, there is an important distinction when they are used in reference to computer-based processing. Text normally refers to plain encoding of alphanumeric characters. Files encoded as text are also known as text files. They are the most basic and common type of computer encoding.
Word processing adds the formatting of text and other information related to the text. These files are normally encoded differently than text files. These are normally referred to as binary files. Users can access a text file directly from the operating system but binary files require a type of program to decode the data.
The astute reader can see that a document so defined may not only be of words but also of any other types of elements. This is, in fact, true. A binary file can be of anything and a program would be required to decode the document, identify its elements and process them whether for display or any other type of action. In particular, a program used to access a word processing file, requires a program known as a word processor, such as the popular Microsoft Word for Windows.
Summarizing, a binary file can encode all types of documents, including still images or audio. A word processing file is a type of binary file, which may also include format, location and other such information about the file's content. A text file is formed by the alphanumeric characters of the text. Text files are the common communication encoding that different computers can use. For this reason, text is the de-facto communication encoding in the web and computer-to-computer protocols across the Internet.
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