A word processor is a computer software application, that performs the task of composition, editing, formatting, printing of documents.

The word processor was a stand-alone office machine in the 1960s, combining the keyboard text-entry and printing functions of an electric typewriter, with a recording unit, either tape or floppy disk (as used by the Wang machine) with a simple dedicated computer processor for the editing of text. Although, features and designs varied among manufacturers and models, and new features were added as technology advanced, word processors typically featured a monochrome display and the ability to save documents on memory cards or diskettes. Later, models introduced with innovations such as spell-checking programs, and improved formatting options. 

(i) More advanced features that are found in recent word processors include:  

• Collaborative editing, allowing multiple users to work on the same document.
• Creation of tables of contents.
• Mail-merge, spell check, etc facilities available.
• Management, editing, and positioning of visual material (illustrations, diagrams), and sometimes sound files. 
• Automatically managed (updated) cross-references to pages or notes.
• Version control of a document, permitting reconstruction of its evolution. 
• Non-printing comments and annotations.
• Generation of document statistics (characters, words, readability level, time spent editing by each user). 
• “Styles”, which automate consistent formatting of text body, titles, subtitles, highlighted text, and so on.