The best text editors allow you to quickly and easily code, without worrying about formatting or causing errors.
This is because most new programmers learn that the first code they choose causes problems, such as incorrect formatting.
The best text editors should be easy to use and functional. No matter if you are coding with Linux, Mac or Windows PC, a text editor must be simple to use and perform the task the way it was intended.
Opening your favorite text editor when you’re a programmer is like wearing a pair of old jeans. There’s a pair for everyone.
Whether you need an app to copy a small code snippet or a text editor that supports IDE-style features you will find it in our list of the top text editors
Best text editors of 2022 in full:
Image credit: Sublime text
1. Sublime Text
Beautiful feature-rich text editor
There are many reasons to buy
+Sleek interface+Distraction-free writing mode+Split editing
Sublime Text is a text editor that many consider the best. Sublime Text is a powerful text editor that allows you to edit code. It puts an emphasis on user experience. You can use split editing and a distraction-free mode to write. There are also quick shortcuts and search.
There are many keyboard shortcuts to open files, hide the sidebar, show and hide the sidebar, duplicate lines, go to a specific line number, open the spell-checker, and many other things. Sublime, like Atom, has an active repository that will continue to add new features even after you have downloaded the first file.
Sublime Text costs more than the other text editors mentioned here. It’s not expensive and some users find the extra features worth it.
2. Atom
Hackable text editor for 21st-century
There are many reasons to buy
+Cross-platform+Based on the electron framework
Avoidable reasons
Larger installation size
Atom enthusiasts were worried when Github, which was the company that developed it in 2018, was acquired by Microsoft. But they didn’t have to be. Atom, which is described as a “hackable editor for the 21st Century”, is still brilliant and one of the most customizable text editors available.
The platform has a large number of packages that have been created by its community. You can also create new packages by editing the CSS backend.
Atom is cross-platform, based on electron framework. However, Atom can be a bit heavy for those who want their apps lightweight.
3. Visual Studio Code
Microsoft’s text editor
There are many reasons to buy
+Customizable+Loads integrations+Source control tools
Visual Studio Code, or VScode, has been a popular choice among developers – those who don’t mind that it is a Microsoft product. It offers many extensions and packages that are free to download from the marketplace. This allows you to add more features, and even customize the code editor.
Visual Studio Code has its own terminal, debugger, support for linting and integration with all manners of source control tools. It is one of the most useful IDEs for Python developers. Visual Studio Code suggests completions and displays on-the-fly popups with the documentation for methods and classes.
4 . Espresso
A text editor that is more productive than coffee
There are many reasons to buy
+Well-designed interface+Can drag and drop content
Avoidable reasons
-No Linux or Windows versions
Espresso is a beautiful Mac-only code editor. It’s smooth and powerful, just like the espresso it’s named for. The editor’s editing interface is partly responsible for the fact that it allows users to edit CSS faster.
It’s designed for real-time editing and is divided into three columns that include your files, code editor, and navigator. This allows you to see which sections of code are being worked on. You can drag-and drop content into Espresso’s interface and see it updated in real time.
5. Brackets
An editor for front-end developers and web designers.
There are many reasons to buy
+Adobe Photoshop integration+Real-time visualization+Free
Brackets, another free open-source editor, makes it simple to design in a web browser. It was designed for front-end developers and web designers. It offers a variety of coding tools, including real-time visualizations of your website, as well as changes being reflected in real time.
Adobe developed Brackets. It allows users to extract color information, fonts, and measurements from PSD files. It’s a must-have tool for any UI designer.
Adobe announced it would end support for Brackets in September, so grab it while you still can.
6. Notepad++
There are many reasons to buy
+Tabbed interface for document+Autosave
Avoidable reasons
Only on Windows
Notepad++, like other solutions on this list, is an open-source project that anyone can contribute to. Many programmers use it as a text editor to quickly view code and copy snippets from FTP clients. They don’t have to wait for the IDE to load. It’s used often alongside Sublime Text and Atom, or even in place of them.
It has a tabbed interface, support macros and plug-ins, and an automatic save function that saves files temporarily and then gives you the option to save them to another location.
7. Vim
The ubiquitous text editor
There are many reasons to buy
+Supports many platforms+Extensive command list+Wide range of add-ons
Avoidable reasons
-Steep learning curve
Vim is a huge program. It’s a different beast than other entries on this list. You will need to spend some time learning the keyboard shortcuts and learn Vim to master it. Once you are familiar with the text editor’s command set, it includes automatic correction, error list, set compiler and automatic syntax. It also allows for conversion to HTML.
You can also find add-ons that provide additional functionality such as autocomplete, replace, and syntax suggestions – all of which are useful in making programming easier. This means that if you spend the time to help VIM understand your goals, you will get 10 times more.
8. BBedit
There are many reasons to buy
+Fast, convenient+Text completion
Avoidable reasons
No Linux or Windows support
BBedit offers a variety of professional features to code. It is a compelling choice for macOS users who can manage simple coding projects as well as more complex ones. BBedit is a popular choice for programmers because of its speed and ease. You can copy large chunks of text to BBedit and see them appear in a new document immediately.
Although this would save you very little time if you only do it once, the seconds you spend copying, pasting, and manipulating code every day add up. Other features of BBedit include code folding, text completion, and support for Universal Stags. You can also access Subversion and Git, which allows you to work transparently in source files that are under revision control.
9. Ultraedit
Text editor that handles large text files
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There are many reasons to buy
+Can handle large text files+Supports multiple programming languages+3 for one licensing
Ultraedit is a powerful editor that can edit text files of over gigabytes. It can edit text as well as a variety of programming languages, including Javascript and PHP.
Ultraedit features a column-based interface that is highly customizable. It can be modified to help you manage your project. You can also create custom keyboard shortcuts to increase speed and control.
How we tested the best text editors
To test for the best text editors we first set up an account with the relevant software platform, whether as a download or as an online service. We then tested the service to see how the software could be used for different purposes and in different situations. The aim was to push each software platform to see how useful its basic tools were and also how easy it was to get to grips with any more advanced tools.
See how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar.
Which text editor is right for you?
Consider your needs before you decide which text editors you want to download. Free platforms can sometimes only offer basic tools, while paid platforms might have more advanced options. You may also find that budget and free software options are limited in terms of the number of tools they offer. However, higher-end software can provide all of your needs.
