# Text

By [Ali](https://paragraph.com/@alihr) · 2022-06-05

---

**Text messaging**, or **texting**, is the act of composing and sending electronic messages, typically consisting of alphabetic and numeric characters, between two or more users of [mobile devices](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_device), [desktops](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desktop_computer)/[laptops](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laptop), or another type of compatible computer. Text messages may be sent over a [cellular network](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellular_network), or may also be sent via an [Internet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet) connection.

The term originally referred to messages sent using the [Short Message Service](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS) (SMS). It has grown beyond alphanumeric text to include multimedia messages using the [Multimedia Messaging Service](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multimedia_Messaging_Service) (MMS) containing digital images, videos, and sound content, as well as ideograms known as [emoji](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emoji) ([happy faces](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smiley), sad faces, and other icons), and [instant messenger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instant_messenger) applications (usually the term is used when on mobile devices).

Text messages are used for personal, family, business and social purposes. Governmental and non-governmental organizations use text messaging for communication between colleagues. In the 2010s, the sending of short informal messages became an accepted part of many cultures, as happened earlier with [emailing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Email).[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Text_messaging#cite_note-1) This makes texting a quick and easy way to communicate with friends, family and colleagues, including in contexts where a [call](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_call) would be impolite or inappropriate (e.g., calling very late at night or when one knows the other person is busy with family or work activities). Like e-mail and [voicemail](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voicemail) and unlike calls (in which the caller hopes to speak directly with the recipient), texting does not require the caller and recipient to both be free at the same moment; this permits communication even between busy individuals. Text messages can also be used to interact with automated systems, for example, to order products or services from [e-commerce](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-commerce) websites, or to participate in online contests. Advertisers and service providers use [direct text marketing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_Text_Marketing) to send messages to mobile users about promotions, payment due dates, and other notifications instead of using [postal mail](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mail), [email](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Email), or [voicemail](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voicemail).

---

*Originally published on [Ali](https://paragraph.com/@alihr/text)*