Digital text

A digital text is one that is prepared to be read on different digital platforms, such as computers, mobile phones, tablets, etc. It is a written content whose function is to inform, promote or communicate briefly on a certain topic. Digital text characteristic types

Examples of digital text are articles that appear on blogs and social networks, product information, or reviews and comparisons. It uses the internet for its diffusion.

By using the internet, they incorporate links with which you can reach other texts and information, exponentially expanding their scope. Use images, sound, videos and any multimedia element that is considered relevant.

Its use on the web is very wide, and although it needs certain codes that work in search engines, the language is basically the same, since what is sought is a reader-user that connects with the content and clicks .

Characteristics of digital text

A digital text has its own characteristics that define it. Let’s see what they are.

1-Connectivity

To access a digital text you have to do it connected to the internet. This means that it can be consulted at any time and from anywhere on the planet, as long as there is a connection.

2-Interaction

The reader becomes a user. You can comment on the text or share it and thus generate feedbacks with both the author and the page where it appears.

An article (which is also called a post) from any website can be perfectly shared through different social networks, increasing its diffusion. Digital text characteristic types

3-Hypertextuality

Hypertextuality refers to the ability of a digital text to direct the user to other related content, either on the page itself or on other external ones.

In this way, digital text becomes a powerful tool for deepening topics and research. These links are called hyperlinks and are recognized because they are usually blue, or are highlighted in some way, and when the cursor is placed over it the shape changes (from arrow to hand) to indicate that it is clickable.

4-Multimedia

To be more attractive and to get users to stay reading and consume digital texts, they usually incorporate gifs, videos, infographics, emojis or any element that makes the reading more dynamic.

Structure of digital text

1-Verbal economy

In a digital text, the information is prepared by searching for simple and short linguistic expressions. Texts with short paragraphs and sentences where direct explanations prevail are preferred.

It is to facilitate the reading habits of users.

2-Use of SEO

SEO (Searching Engine Optimization) is a writing method aimed at driving traffic to the web through search engines. That is, it is based on a wording in which certain keywords must be highlighted.

Keywords are special words that appear throughout the text. They are chosen by the editor (or by whoever creates the content of a website) so that the text appears in the top positions of Google, when a user does an internet search.

To illustrate this, let’s say a keyword is “car rental in Madrid”. A digital text that includes this keyword could say: “If you need a car rental service in Madrid, your best option is to call Autos Estrella.”

Although it may be a bit forced, we will always try to insert the keywords in a natural way, so that the reading is as fluid as possible. Digital text characteristic types

3-HTML structure

This means that the information must be very well organized and hierarchies of titling must be established in the text. In the HTML language, the H1, H2, H3 tags are used, etc. H1 indicates the title of the post. H2 is a subtitle. The H3s go into the H2s, the H4s into the H3s, and so on.

It is a way of organizing the text so that, again, the reader-user has a better reading experience.

4-Tone and extension

In general, digital texts use clear language, a standard variant of the language that can reach as many people as possible. Articles written in 2nd person, aimed at the reader, are common then, since they are expected to interact and continue browsing.

As for the extension, it is variable. It is true that we no longer depend on the space in the same way that newspaper articles did in the past, which had to fulfill a certain number of words to fill specific spaces in the newspaper when it was diagrammed.

Now it is a bit more flexible. However, the most common articles are those between 500 and 1,500 words.

Types of digital texts

1-Unimodal

They refer to the texts that were written or digitized in a certain word processor, which are recognized because in their extension they appear with acronyms: .doc, pdf, rtf, etc. They do not differ in anything from printed texts except that their support is digital.

They are not necessarily read online although they can be located on the web and downloaded. An example would be a story written by someone and transcribed on a computer. Or the books uploaded to epub platforms, digitized.

2-Multimodal

These use online or multimodal editors. In other words, they integrate several functions. In turn, they are classified into two types.

1-Multimedia

They are texts that include videos, audios and images. Examples of multimedia texts are cybertexts, digital presentations, etc. Digital text characteristic types

2-Hypertext

Hypertexts are texts written specifically for a website. They break with the linearity of the written text by linking with other texts. In this way, an article on a web page can be considered as a kind of cell that, when linked with the other texts, acquires relevance.

It is just one part of a larger whole.

3-Intertexts

Intertexts refer to the exchange of information and content that is generated in a digital text. That is, when users make comments, they also become content generators.

Examples of this would be chats, emails, forums, social networks such as Facebook, blogs, etc.

Examples of digital text

Example 1: hypertext

“The vegan diet is one in which any element that comes from animals is eliminated (click here to find out which foods they are) and opts for purely vegetable products. Click here for more information ”.

Example 2: intertext

“Topic: food. Forum: veganism

Abejaluz (Registered: Jan 2, 2019): Hello, I would like you to explain to me what exactly veganism is. Can’t I eat honey? Thanks! Digital text characteristic types

Mara (Registered: Feb 11, 2018): Hello, honeybee, veganism is a personal choice where you decide not to use any product of animal origin. You cannot eat honey, or milk or its derivatives, as well as wear wool or silk clothing, because both are produced by animals. I hope I have been helpful!”.