Hypertext is text which is not constrained to be linear. It contains links to other texts, forming a non-linear web of information.
Defining the Terms
The term was coined by Ted Nelson around 1965 (see History). HyperMedia is a broader term used for hypertext which is not constrained to be text; it can include graphics, video, and sound.
It is important to remember that Hypertext and HyperMedia are concepts, not specific products. WorldWideWeb is one specific project that utilizes these hypertext concepts.
See Also
- A list of terms used in hypertext literature.
- Conferences.
- Commercial (and academic) products.
- A newsgroup on hypertext, "alt.hypertext".
- Standards.