Free Text and Open Source Code Editor Notepad++ is a free, open source text and code editor. Written in the C++ programming language, Notepad++ prides itself on reducing unnecessary features and streamlining processes to create a lightweight and powerful text notepad. In practice, this means great speed, and the easy-to-use and user-friendly ++ has been around for almost two decades and shows no signs of losing popularity. The notebook definitely proves that you don't need to invest in expensive software to code in the comfort of your own home. Try it yourself and you'll understand why Notepad is still the classic standard for virtual notebooks. Whether you're a serious coder or just looking for a stylish and lightweight text editor, Notepad++ is for you. Notepad++ has been around for a long time and has built a loyal fan community with millions of users downloading it. Since it is an open source program, anyone with coding skills can use the code and modify it to customize and make improvements themselves, which also means that there are many resources and tools available online. Even though newer code editors like Sublime are growing in popularity, Notepad++ is still a good choice, whether you're new to coding or old. Can I download Notepad++? The basic version of Notepad++ can be downloaded for free by clicking the Free Download button in Notepad++. It's only available for Windows, so users of other platforms should look elsewhere for coding tools. After downloading, the installation wizard will guide you through a few easy steps to complete the installation and you will be coding in no time. How to use Notepad++? If you use Notepad++ as a regular text editor, using the program is as easy as opening it and starting to type. Notepad++ includes many default features that make the writing and editing process much easier. It includes an auto-save feature, line bookmarks, and the ability to create a tabbed document interface. These tools are especially useful if you're editing existing text, as they make it easier to mark and search areas of the document. Although it's not really a substitute for a more versatile word processor, Notepad offers a great advantage for writing such simple ​​programs. While Notepad++ is an excellent text editor, coding is where it really shines. Notepad has built-in features that allow you to read and understand many different coding languages ​​such as C++, STL, Python and many more. You can also use Notepad++ to convert files written in one coding language to another. Just move the code from one file into Notepad and you can easily rewrite the code in the new language of your choice using Notepad's intuitive conversion feature. Notepad allows code folding, syntax highlighting, and auto-completion in some cases. You can use navigation features such as split screen and synchronized scrolling to easily navigate your code. You can then search your code, make continuous edits, and do it all in a sleek and lightweight interface. It also offers more command featuresthan other competitors like Textpad. Notepad++ also supports plugins and other add-ons, many of which are created by users who take advantage of the program's open source code. Notepad in particular makes this very easy to add plugins. In fact, the new version of Notepad has included several extensions, and 10 user-created extensions are now included by default in the program. Nearly 150 more are available for download to customize your experience. While newer coding programs like Sublime get the spotlight, it's this level of customization that keeps Notepad relevant among its competitors. Using Notepad isn't just a good choice for coding, it's a good choice for the planet. Notepad has long emphasized its commitment to a greener environment. By streamlining their user interface, using Notepad puts less strain on your processor than other programs. Less load on your CPU means you use less power, which means a greener environment and lower energy costs. Is Notepad++ safe? Notepad++ has been around for years and has built an excellent reputation as one of the most reliable programs on the web. This makes it one of the safest free programs you can download. However, since it has been around for so long, there are many copies and fake versions online that mimic the official program. To make sure you're safe, make sure the version of Notepad++ you download comes from a trusted source, like the developer's website, you can also check the latest news about upcoming versions or the website's RSS feed. Aside from a few minor technical glitches, such as examples of unclear text or occasional problems launching programs, Notepad++ is an excellent piece of software. The only major drawback of Notepad++ is that it is only available for Windows. If you're using another platform, you're out of luck and need to find another encoder. It's also not very forgiving for beginners; there aren't many built-in tutorials or instructions if you're new to coding. If you're not already familiar with the basics of coding, it's pretty much sink or swim. However, because Notepad++ has such a long reputation, it is full of online resources, tutorials, and user forums that can answer almost any question you may have. A must-have tool for writing and coding While there are plenty of shiny new text editors online like Sublime, Notepad++ has stuck around for good reason. It's simple, reliable and powerful for your coding and word processing needs. This timeless classic will likely be around for years to come. Despite the fact that Notepad++ has been around for a long time, it still receives regular updates and bug fixes that can be downloaded from the official website. The latest version offers improved security features as well as minor changes designed to improve ease of use. We also recommend reading our Best VPN article.