hypertext
n.n. digital text that contains links to other pieces of information. When you click on a word or image in this kind of text, it takes you to a new page or document.
n. a software system that links topics on screen to related information and graphics, which are typically accessed by a point-and-click interface. It allows for non-linear navigation through a body of information.
The internet is built on a massive system of hypertext.
The early web was primarily composed of simple hypertext documents connected by blue, underlined links.
The conceptual shift from linear reading to hypertext navigation fundamentally altered how users consume and synthesise information across digital platforms.
Coined by Ted Nelson in 1963. The term combines the Greek prefix hyper-, meaning over or beyond, with the English noun text.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Often used as a modifier in the phrase 'hypertext link' or 'hypertext markup language'.
Last updated July 22, 2026