Editing Readability (section)

{{Short description|Level of ease with which a reader can understand written text}}
{{About||the website|Readability (service)|code readability|Computer programming#Readability of source code}}
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'''Readability''' is the ease with which a [[Reading (process)|reader]] can [[understand]] a [[written text]]. The concept exists in both [[natural language]] and [[programming language]]s though in different forms. In [[natural language]], the readability of text depends on its [[Content (media)|content]] (the complexity of its [[vocabulary]] and [[syntax]]) and its presentation (such as [[typographic]] aspects that affect [[legibility]], like [[font size]], [[line height]], [[Kerning|character spacing]], and [[line length]]). In [[Computer programming|programming]], things such as programmer [[Comment (computer programming)|comments]], choice of [[Control flow#Loops|loop]] structure, and [[Naming convention (programming)|choice of names]] can determine [[Computer programming#Readability of source code|the ease with which humans can read computer program code]].

Higher readability in a text eases reading effort and speed for the general population of readers. For those who do not have high [[reading comprehension]], readability is necessary for understanding and applying a given text. Techniques to simplify readability are essential to communicate a set of information to the intended audience.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Link to external site |first1=this link will open in a new tab |last2=Link to external site |first2=this link will open in a new tab |date=2023 |title=Text Simplification to Specific Readability Levels |journal=Mathematics |volume=11 |issue=9 |pages=2063 |doi=10.3390/math11092063|id={{ProQuest|2812618745}} |doi-access=free }}</ref> Whether it is code, news information, or storytelling, every writer has a target audience that they have to adjust their readability levels to.