Word processing refers to the act of using a computer to create, edit, save, and print documents. A word processor is a device or software program that allows users to write and modify text, display it on a screen, save it electronically, and print it out. Word processing software is one of the most common technology tools in the world, allowing users to create a wide variety of documents including reports, letters, memos, newsletters, and brochures.

Word processors have evolved from mechanical machines and only later merged with the computer field. The history of word processing is the story of the gradual automation of the physical aspects of writing and editing, and then to the refinement of the technology to make it available to corporations and individuals. The term "word processing" appeared in American offices in the early 1970s, centered on the idea of streamlining the work to typists, but the meaning soon shifted toward the automation of the whole editing cycle.

Word processing software allows users to manipulate text documents, such as resumes or reports, by typing text and modifying it in numerous ways. Most word processors feature built-in spell checking, basic grammar checking, and a searchable thesaurus. They may also provide suggestions for word choice and have more robust editing capabilities. Word processors allow users to add content such as pictures, tables, and charts to their documents, as well as decorative items including borders and clipart.

Before computers, people used typewriters to write reports or other documents, which had nowhere near the capabilities as todays word processors. Todays word processing concept was introduced by IBM with its introduction of the IBM Magnetic Tape Selectric Typewriter in 1964, which pioneered using magnetic tape to store data.