leitores

Leitores is the plural form of leitor in Portuguese, referring to people who read. The term covers readers of any written content, including books, newspapers, magazines, and digital material. It is also used in publishing and advertising to describe an audience, as in “número de leitores” or “leituras de um jornal.”

In literature, o leitor is seen as an active interpreter of a text. The idea that meaning arises through the interaction between reader and text is central to reader-response theory, associated with scholars such as Wolfgang Iser and Louise Rosenblatt. This perspective emphasizes that readers bring literacy, culture, and personal experience to their readings, shaping interpretation.

In publishing and media, leitores or readership denotes the size and characteristics of an audience. Readership can be measured by surveys, subscriptions, circulation, or online metrics such as page views and unique visitors. The concept is used to analyze reading habits across different languages, ages, and regions, informing editorial and marketing decisions.

In the digital era, the term também includes leitores digitais, or e-readers, referring to devices and applications that enable electronic reading. The growth of e-books, audiobooks, and online journalism has expanded how readers access and engage with texts, with implications for literacy, education, and content strategy. Overall, leitores describe a broad and evolving group central to the creation, distribution, and reception of written material.