Nonplain

Nonplain is a term used in information technology and digital communication to denote content that is not plain text. Plain text refers to sequences of characters with no formatting, markup, or embedded objects; nonplain content includes formatting, markup, or embedded media that alter presentation or structure.

In typography and document formats, nonplain content encompasses a wide range of formats and features. Examples include HTML and other markup languages, rich text formats (RTF), word processor documents (such as DOCX or ODT), formatted emails, and Markdown when rendered with styling. Nonplain content may also involve font changes, colors, layout instructions, images, or embedded objects that go beyond simple character data.

In computing workflows, the distinction between plain and nonplain can influence rendering, editing, indexing, search, and data interchange. For developers and content managers, identifying content as nonplain helps determine handling requirements, such as how to render in a viewer, preserve formatting during transfer, or extract meaningful text for indexing.

Limitations and context are important: nonplain is an informal and context-dependent label rather than a standardized classification. Different systems may interpret what counts as nonplain differently, and some formats blur the line between plain and formatted content.

See also: plain text, rich text, markup languages.