Windows and macOS come pre-installed with a program that can open and edit text files. It's called TextEdit on Macs and Notepad on Windows, but neither are quite as advanced as some of the third-party applications that are available today.

1. Best Text Editor 2017 Mac For Javascript Tutorial
2. Best Text Editor 2017 Mac For Javascript Snake
3. Best Free Text Editor Mac
4. Best Text Editor 2017

Find the best Text Editor using real-time, up-to-date data from over 3593 verified user reviews. TextEdit is a text editor based on the NStext and NSDocument text system of Cocoa for Mac. TextEdit Reviews. Are specifically built to analyze large chunks of code without executing it in order to aid in debugging.

Most of the text editors below need to be downloaded to your computer before you can use them, but all of them provide their own unique set of features that set them apart from the default software programs that come with Windows and Mac.

Why Use a Text Editor?

A text editor lets you open a file as a text document, something that can be useful for a number of reasons:

• Create a file from scratch using a specific programming language, like an HTML or CSS file for use on a website
• Edit or build files that end with the TXT, REG, XML, CSV, ASP, BAT, AU3, PHP, AHK, SVG, or JS file extension, among many others
• View the text version of a file that you don't know the format for
• Quickly remove formatting like bold, custom font types, URL hyperlinks, etc.

If you just need a super quick way to strip the formatting from some text, try this online text editor. To make a .TXT file online without downloading a program, try Edit Pad.

Notepad++

What We Like

• Tabbed interface

• Automatically restores recently opened, unsaved files

• Auto-completes as you write

• Includes tons of really helpful features like macros, syntax highlighting, and plugins

• Opens basically any file as a text document

• There's a portable version available

Notepad++ is the best alternative notepad application for Windows computers. It’s really easy to use for basic users who just need a text file opener or editor but also includes some really advanced features for those interested.

This program uses tabbed browsing which means you can open multiple documents at once and they'll display at the top of Notepad++ as tabs. While each tab represents its own file, Notepad++ can interact with all of them at once to do things like compare files for differences and search for or replace text.

Probably the easiest way to edit files with Notepad++ is to right-click the file and choose Edit with Notepad++ from the context menu.

This program can open nearly any file as a text document and supports lots of helpful plugins. It also includes a really handy text search/replace function, highlights syntax automatically, auto-completes words, and is the best offline text file converter.

The Notepad++ Find option lets you search for words with criteria like backward direction, match whole word only, match case, and wrap around.

Also supported is bookmarking, macros, auto-backup, multi-page searching, resumed sessions, read-only mode, encoding conversions, and the ability to search for words on Wikipedia and quickly open the document in your web browser.

Notepad++ also supports plugins to do things like auto-save open documents, merge all the text from open documents into one main file, align programming code, monitor open documents to refresh them as they change, copy and paste more than one item from the clipboard at once, and lots more.

Notepad++ lets you save text documents to a huge variety of formats like TXT, CSS, ASM, AU3, BASH, BAT, HPP, CC, DIFF, HTML, REG, HEX, JAVA, SQL, VBS, and many others.

Notepad++ works with Windows only, both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. You can also grab a portable version of Notepad++ from the download page; one is in the ZIP format and the other is a 7Z file.

Brackets

What We Like

• Perfect for an uncluttered, minimal working space

• Supports split-screen editing

• Includes code-specific syntax highlighting

• Can view updates for some files live in your web browser

• Lets you use keyboard shortcuts

• Works on Windows, Linux, and macOS

• Plugins are supported to add extra features

What We Don't Like

• Built mainly for people with code development in mind, so most of the features are centered around project files, displaying code, etc.

Brackets is a free text editor that's primarily meant for web designers, but can of course be used by anyone to view or edit a text document.

The interface is extremely clean and modern and feels really easy to use despite all of its advanced settings. In fact, nearly all of the options are hidden away from plain site so that it's easy for anyone to use, which also provides an extremely open UI for editing.

Code writers might like that Brackets highlights syntax, can split the screen to edit more than one document simultaneously, lets you click one No Distractions button for a really simple interface, and supports lots of keyboard shortcuts so that you can quickly indent, duplicate, move between lines, toggle line and block comments, show or hide code hints, and more.

You can quickly change the file type you're working with to instantly change syntax highlighting rules, as well as change the encoding of the file if you need to.

If you're editing a CSS or HTML file, you can enable the Live Preview option to watch the page update in real time in your web browser as you make changes to the file.

The Working Files area is where you can open all of the files that belong to a single project, and quickly move between them without leaving Brackets.

Some examples of plugins you can use in Brackets includes one to support W3C validation, Ungit to make it easier to use Git, an HTML tag menu, and Python tools.

Brackets comes installed with both a dark and a light theme that you can change at any time, but there are dozens of others that you can install through the Extensions Manager.

Brackets is available as a DEB, MSI, and DMG file for use in Linux, Windows, and macOS, respectively.

Komodo Edit

What We Like

• Very attractive and modern interface

• You can make virtual projects to bring together files from various locations

• Supports unique features not found in similar text editors

• Changing the interface setup is easy with one click

• The tabbed interface is easy to work with

• Runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows

What We Don't Like

• It's a bit complex — even with its minimal UI — for people who want just a simple text editor

Komodo Edit is another free text editor with a super clear and minimal design that still manages to pack some awesome features.

Various view modes are included so that you can quickly open or close specific windows. One is “Focus Mode” to hide all of the open windows and just display the editor, and the others show/hide things like folders, the syntax checker results, and notifications.

This program makes it very easy to open text documents even while one is currently open. At the very top of the program is the path to the currently opened file, and you can select the arrow next to any folder to get a list of files, any of which will open as a new tab in Komodo Edit if you select it.

The folder views off to the side of Komodo Edit are also really useful since they let you browse through the file system as well as create virtual projects that link folders and files together to better organize what you need to work on.

A unique feature in Komodo Edit is the area at the upper-left side of the program that lets you not only undo and redo like most programs, but also go back to the previous cursor location, as well as go forward to return to where you just were.

Here are some other Komodo Edit features worth noting:

• Can connect to a remote FTP server to open and/or save files
• Supports bookmarking specific areas of the document
• Lets you switch to a huge number of file types to highlight syntax differently and to save under that format
• The 'Go to Anything' search box lets you search for files to open, install add-ons, run scripts and commands, open menus, install other languages, change the color scheme, and more
• Recently closed tabs and files are easy to re-open
• Lets you preview files in a web browser
• Templates can be built out of existing files
• A 'Watch File' option can open a document in a new window for reference withouting being added to the tabbed list of files you're editing
• Records macros that can be played back to repeat things

This text editor works with Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Visual Studio Code

What We Like

• Whole folders can be opened at once to open all of the text files

• A minimal interface is just one click away

• Supports tabs for easy file tracking

• Includes a debugger; perfect for source code editing

Best Text Editor 2017 Mac For Javascript Tutorial

What We Don't Like

• Centered primarily around editing and debugging code, so it could be too much for the average user

• Settings are difficult to change

Visual Studio Code is a free text editor that's used primarily as a source code editor.

The program is extremely minimal and even has a 'Zen Mode' option one click away that immediately hides all the menus and windows, and maximizes the program to fill the whole screen.

The tabbed browsing interface seen with other text editors is supported in Visual Studio Code as well, which makes it really easy to work with multiple documents at once.

You can also open entire folders of files at once if you're working on a project, and even save the project for easy retrieval later.

However, this text editor probably isn't ideal unless you plan to use it for programming purposes. There are entire sections dedicated to debugging code, viewing command outputs, managing source control providers, and even using a built-in Command Prompt.

The settings are also not as intuitive to adjust since you have to modify them using the text editor; the settings are entirely text-based.

Here are some features you might find useful in this program:

• You can open whole folders at once from the right-click context menu
• A 'Change All Occurrences' option makes it easy to select and edit text you want to change throughout the entire document in one sweep
• Similar is the 'Rename Refactoring' option to change the name of a symbol in every instance of it across all the documents in your project
• Opening recently closed documents is easy since they're listed in the same place
• The 'IntelliSense' feature helps to automatically fill in code based on surrounding text and the location of the cursor in the document
• Files can be auto-saved if you turn the option on
• A document can quickly be reverted back to the state it was in when you last saved it
• The editing space can be split into multiple windows for side-by-side reading and editing
• Dozens of keyboard shortcuts are allowed and fully editable, such as one to copy/paste an entire line of code directly above or below the current position
• You can change the color theme of the program as well as the theme of icons
• Extensions can be installed to add more features to Visual Studio Code, such as one to debug JavaScript code in the Chrome browser and another to run programming code directly from the text editor
• When searching for text strings, you can define whether to match the case and/or the whole word

Visual Studio Code can be installed on Windows, Mac, and Linux computers.

As a programmer, your text editor is your toolbox and every feature is a different tool. Using a barebones editor (e.g. Notepad) to write code is like building a house with only a hammer: it’s possible, but way more trouble than it’s worth, and the end result won’t be very good.

JavaScript is a messy language to begin with, so you’ll need all the help you can get. A proper, well-equipped text editor can help you code faster, write cleaner code10 Tips for Writing Cleaner & Better Code10 Tips for Writing Cleaner & Better CodeWriting clean code looks easier than it actually is, but the benefits are worth it. Here's how you can start writing cleaner code today.Read More, catch bugs sooner rather than later, but most of all, make programming fun and enjoyableHow to Learn Programming Without All the StressHow to Learn Programming Without All the StressMaybe you've decided to pursue programming, whether for a career or just as a hobby. Great! But maybe you're starting to feel overwhelmed. Not so great. Here's help to ease your journey.Read More.

These days, there are only five editors worth your consideration when writing JavaScript. You can find dozens of alternatives, but none of them hold a candle to these so don’t waste your time.

1. WebStorm

Available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

WebStorm is the only full-blown IDEText Editors vs. IDEs: Which One Is Better For Programmers?Text Editors vs. IDEs: Which One Is Better For Programmers?Choosing between an advanced IDE and a simpler text editor can be hard. We offer some insight to help you make that decision.Read More on this list — the rest are advanced text editors. This means two things: first, all of its best features are built-in and official, and second, the entire coding environment is one cohesive whole. Other editors tend to be a hodge-podge of third-party plugins.

WebStorm is a comprehensive app with many features you won’t find elsewhere:

• The best auto-completion for JavaScript.
• Excellent coding assistance for frameworks like Angular, React, and Meteor.
• Hundreds of inspections to catch issues in code as you write.
• Full-blown debugger for client- and server-side code.
• Advanced navigation shortcuts for traversing many files.
• Integration with Karma, Mocha, Jest, and Protractor for unit tests.
• Interfaces for build tool configuration, including Grunt and Gulp.

Simply put, WebStorm is designed for JavaScript professionals who work on large projects with many workflow tools. It’s absolutely overkill if you just want to edit stray scripts here and there. If you’re skeptical, note that WebStorm is developed by JetBrains, the same group behind other beloved IDEs like IntelliJ (Java) and PyCharm (Python).

Unfortunately, WebStorm isn’t free — you’ll have to subscribe to a monthly or yearly plan. The good news is that the subscription price goes down the longer you keep your plan active.

Download — WebStorm ($13 per month, 30-day free trial)

2. Visual Studio Code

Available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

First things first, Visual Studio Code is not the same thing as Visual Studio. Whereas Visual Studio is a bloated mess of an IDE, Visual Studio Code is a customizable text editor that can be as simple or advanced as you need, thanks to its repository of third-party extensions.

First released in 2015, Visual Studio Code has come a long way since. It comes complete with a number of built-in features that elevate it high above other text editors:

• Contextual auto-completion based on variables, functions, modules, etc.
• Solid debugger with break points, call stacks, and interactive console.
• Several productivity tips and features10 Essential Productivity Tips for Visual Studio Code10 Essential Productivity Tips for Visual Studio CodeVisual Studio Code blows other programming text editors out of the water. It's free, open source, lightning fast, and packed with productivity features.Read More for faster development.
• User-definable snippets for templating oft-reused code patterns.
• Native integration with Git source control.
• Fast, responsive, and themable interface.

But perhaps the best part of Visual Studio Code is that it’s open source. In fact, it’s hosted right on GitHub10 Free Open Source Windows Tools Hosted on GitHub10 Free Open Source Windows Tools Hosted on GitHubMicrosoft is the organization with the most open source contributors on GitHub. To celebrate this achievement, we have compiled a list of the best free Windows tools you can download from GitHub.Read More and you can go check out the source code right now if you want. And as one of the most active projects on GitHub, you can be sure that this editor has nowhere to go but up.

Download — Visual Studio Code (Free)

3. Sublime Text

Available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

When Sublime Text arrived on scene in 2008, everyone lost their minds. A software engineer quit his job at Google to create the ultimate text editor, driven by three simple principles: minimal interface clutter, text should be the focus, and all screen estate should be used. All of those things are true even today.

Sublime Text comes several notable features that prove its worth:

• The fastest and most responsive performance of any text editor.
• Tab groups and multiple split-pane editing.
• Project-based organization and editing of files.
• Command Palette for typing commands instead of using the mouse.
• Workflow productivity features11 Sublime Text Tips for Productivity and a Faster Workflow11 Sublime Text Tips for Productivity and a Faster WorkflowSublime Text is a versatile text editor and a gold standard for many programmers. Our tips focus on efficient coding, but general users will appreciate the keyboard shortcuts.Read More like multiple cursors and project-wide search.
• Massive repository of third-party extensions.

Sublime Text pioneered a lot of the features that make modern text editors as great as they are. Unfortunately, enough time has passed that competitors have caught up. And since many of those competitors are completely free, it’s becoming harder to justify Sublime Text’s hefty price tag and closed source code.

Download — Sublime Text ($70, unlimited free trial)

4. Atom Editor

Available on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

When Atom Editor was first released in 2014, many dubbed it as the “Sublime Text killer.” Yet while Atom has a sizeable fan base, it never quite managed to surpass Sublime Text in popularity. And now that Visual Studio Code is drawing all eyes its way, it’s possible that Atom has now peaked.

Not to say that Atom is bad. It’s perfectly serviceable with its handful of features:

• Flexible auto-completion with the help of plugins.
• Smart interface for managing themes, packages, and settings.
• Tab groups and multiple split-pane editing.
• Productivity workflow features like fuzzy finder.
• Highly customizable interface using HTML, CSS, and JS.

Best Text Editor 2017 Mac For Javascript Snake

I’ve always viewed Atom as the poor man’s Sublime Text. There are even plugins aimed at replicating some of Sublime Text’s features, such as the minimap. My biggest gripe with Atom is its subpar performance — it’s not exactly slow, but it isn’t fast. I like my text editors lighting fast.

But it’s free and open source, so it seems silly to complain about such things. If you can’t stomach Visual Studio Code for some reason and you don’t like the proprietary nature of Sublime Text, then Atom is the perfect compromise.

Download — Atom Editor (Free)

5. Brackets

Available on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Brackets is a text editor by Adobe that launched around the same time Atom did in 2014. Unfortunately, it never quite caught on. Most users were happy with Sublime Text, those who weren’t had already committed to Atom, and Brackets didn’t offer enough to entice either group into switching over.

But over the past few years, Brackets has accumulated a small but fervent fan base. It offers a handful of nifty features that are mainly geared towards web developers:

• Live preview of web code with a real-time connection to your browser.
• Inline editors for viewing chunks of code without jumping between files.
• Extract feature can pull details from PSD and convert into CSS.
• Tab groups and split-pane editing.
• Customizable and extensible through third-party plugins.

My biggest gripe about Brackets is performance — it’s easily the slowest and clunkiest of all the editors on this list. That’s a deal-breaker for me, but perhaps not for you. Plenty of users are happy with how Brackets performs, so give it a try. Maybe it won’t bother you as much. Also, Brackets is completely open source!

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Download — Brackets (Free)

Other Coding Tips You May Find Useful

If you’re new to JavaScript and feeling overwhelmed, just know that it is a tough language to crack. Just because you’re struggling doesn’t mean you aren’t cut out to be a programmer6 Signs That You Are Not Meant to Be a Programmer6 Signs That You Are Not Meant to Be a ProgrammerNot everyone is cut out to be a programmer. If you aren't completely sure that you're meant to be a programmer, here are some signs that may point you in the right direction.Read More. Using one of the above text editors can really make JavaScript easier to handle.

Other bits of advice include these tips for mastering a new language7 Useful Tricks for Mastering a New Programming Language7 Useful Tricks for Mastering a New Programming LanguageIt's okay to be overwhelmed when you are learning to code. You'll probably forget things as quickly as you learn them. These tips can help you to better retain all that new information.Read More as well as these project ideas for learning code faster5 Project Ideas To Help You Learn Programming Faster5 Project Ideas To Help You Learn Programming FasterThere are a few ways to ease the learning curve for programming. Get your hands dirty and learn faster with side projects you can start anytime. Play around with these five.Read More. Don’t forget these free JavaScript resourcesStart Coding JavaScript Right Now With These 5 Great Free ResourcesStart Coding JavaScript Right Now With These 5 Great Free ResourcesRead More and these top JavaScript courses on UdemyReally Learn JavaScript with 5 Top Udemy CoursesReally Learn JavaScript with 5 Top Udemy CoursesJavaScript is the programming language of the web. If you have a reason to learn JavaScript, these five excellent courses from Udemy could be the place to begin your coding journey.Read More.

Keep at it because JavaScript is a high-demand language. There are several career options for JavaScript programmers10 Computer Programming Jobs That Are In Demand Right Now10 Computer Programming Jobs That Are In Demand Right NowSince landing a programming job can be tough in the current landscape, consider focusing on one of the following concentrations to improve your chances of success.Read More, and web development is on the rise. If you’re still in high school, you may even want to consider these top-rated programming colleges10 Top-Rated Computer Programming Colleges in the U.S.10 Top-Rated Computer Programming Colleges in the U.S.Think you have what it takes to enroll in a top Computer Science school? Here are the best ones to consider.Read More.

What’s your favorite text editor for JavaScript coding? If you prefer one that we didn’t mention, let us know which one and make your case! Share with us in a comment below.

Image Credit: Thongchai Kitiyanantawong via Shutterstock.com

Explore more about: JavaScript, Visual Studio Code.

Best Text Editor 2017

1. How about Dreamweaver CC 2019

2. Wow, this a tight list. Each of the editors you have listed are great in their own respect. From there, it just falls to “user preference”.
   However, I would be inclined to add a “bonus” option, UltraEdit. While it’s not free, it offers a lot of tools, add-ons and features missing in some of the other editors.
   Personally, I use UltraEdit at work (because they paid for it) but I use Visual Studio Code at home (because it’s free). Both are great editors.
   Just my 2 cents worth.