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== In short ==This ConTeXt is an illustrative example software for typesetting high-quality documents. Unlike familiar word processors where the formatting of what the final document is crafted while writing the content, ConTeXt documents are written without formatting, in plain text, using a ConTeXt macro language. This means that the document looks like to the writer:'s content can change independently of its formatting and vice versa.

== Features == ConTeXt supports colors, configurable page backgrounds, hyperlinks, presentations, figure-text integration, cross-references, bibliographies, indices, typesetting for [[Chemistry|chemistry]] and [[Command/unit|physics]], [[Modes|conditional compilation]], non-latin languages, and [[Imposition|binding and imposition]]. == Graphics == ConTeXt integrates a superset of [[MetaPost]] called [[MetaFun]], which allows drawing page backgrounds and ornaments. == Internationalization == ConTeXt provides a multi-lingual user interface with support for markup in English, Dutch, German, French, and Italian and support for output in many languages including western European languages, eastern European languages, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. == Compatibility == ConTeXt supports TeX engines such as [[wikipedia:pdfTeX|pdfTeX]], [[XeTeX]], and [[LuaTeX]] without changing the user interface. == History == ConTeXt was developed from 1990 by Hans Hagen from [http://www.pragma-ade.com/ PRAGMA Advanced Document Engineering] (Pragma ADE), a Netherlands-based company.  == Licensing == ConTeXt is [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/free_software free software]. The program code (i.e. anything not under the <code>/doc</code> subtree) is distributed under the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_GPL GNU GPL]; the documentation is provided under [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_Commons Creative Commons] Attribution NonCommercial ShareAlike license. == Example == A simple ConTeXt document resembles: <context source="yes " text="And this is what the resulting PDF looks likeThis produces:">

'''ConTeXt is ...'''* ''typography-friendly'': where [[wikipedia:LaTeX|LaTeX]]'s philosophy is to insulate the author from typographical details, ConTeXt's approach is to make them accessible.* ''unified'': nearly any feature you could want is in one of the many core modules, avoiding the common LaTeX problem of clashing third-party packages.* ''extensive'': there is support for such diverse things as colors, adaptive backgrounds, hyperlinks, presentations, figure-text integration, typesetting for [[Chemistry|chemistry]] and [[Command/unit|physics]], [[Modes|conditional compilation]], non-latin languages, and [[Imposition|binding and imposition]].* ''text-based'': you write the document as source code, in plain text.* ''compiled'': you compile a source code to a PDF by opening a command-line window (like the Terminal on Linux or Mac OS, or the [[wikipedia:Command_Prompt|Command Prompt]] on Windows) and running {{code|context mydocument.tex}}. Installing and updating also happens via the command line, in general. ConTeXt provides a multi-lingual user interface with support for markup in English, Dutch, German, French, and Italian and support for output in many languages including western European languages, eastern European languages, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. It also allows the user to use different TeX engines like[[wikipedia:pdfTeX|pdfTeX]], [[XeTeX]], and [[LuaTeX]] without changing the user interface. ConTeXt integrates a superset of [[MetaPost]] called [[MetaFun]] which allows the users to use the drawing abilities of MetaPost for page backgrounds and ornaments. Metafun can also be used on its own with MetaPost, without ConTeXt. ConTeXt was developed from 1990 by Hans Hagen from [http://www.pragma-ade.com/ PRAGMA Advanced Document Engineering] (Pragma ADE), a Netherlands-based company. It is [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/free_software free software]: The program code (i.e. anything not under the <code>/doc</code> subtree) is distributed under the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_GPL GNU GPL]; the documentation is provided under [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_Commons Creative Commons] Attribution NonCommercial ShareAlike license. == In a bit more detail == (From in-en-04.pdf) ConTeXt can be used to typeset complex and large collectionsof documents, like educational materials, user guidesand technical manuals. Such documents often have high demandsregarding structure, design and accessibility. Ease ofmaintenance, reuse of content and typographic consistencyare important prerequisites.

ConTeXt is developed for those who are responsible for producingsuch documents. ConTeXt is written in the typographicalprogramming language TeX. For using ConTeXt, no TeXprogramming skills and no technical background are needed.Some basic knowledge of typography and document designwill enable you to use the full power of ConTeXt.

ConTeXt is parameter driven and the user interface supportsseveral languages, like English, German and Dutch. Thismeans that those less familiar with the English language canchoose the interface that suits them best. Of course ConTeXtcan typeset in many languages.

Originally ConTeXt was written as tool for writing complex,constantly changing and extensive educational documents.Although much functionality originates there, ConTeXt hasproven to be quite suitable to perform many other complextypesetting tasks. Some features are:

ConTeXt supports the PDF format and is able to directly producehighly interactive PDF files, using pdfTeX. All cross-referencesare automatically converted to hyperlinks. Such documentscan be viewed and consulted with Acrobat. ConTeXtcan provide all kinds of navigational aids that can be activatedwithout programming. Electronic versions of documentsthereby become very useful in educational settings. The potentialof PDF is available to the user: complex forms andJavaScripts are no problem for ConTeXt.[http://www.pragma-ade.nl/ PRAGMA ADE] has developed ConTeXt in-house mainly to suitits own and customers' wishes concerning developing educationaldocuments. Flexibility in layout, reuse of content, andmaintenance are keywords.