Notepad++ is a free, open-source text and source code editor that serves as a superior replacement for Windows' built-in Notepad. Written in C++ and using pure Win32 API and STL for maximum performance, Notepad++ has become one of the most popular code editors among developers, system administrators, and power users worldwide.
The editor provides comprehensive syntax highlighting and code folding for over 80 programming languages including Python, JavaScript, C++, Java, PHP, HTML, CSS, SQL, and many more. This makes it an invaluable tool for developers working across multiple languages. The auto-completion feature supports both word completion and function completion, significantly speeding up coding workflows.
Notepad++ features a tabbed document interface allowing you to work with multiple files simultaneously. The split-screen view enables editing or comparing two documents side by side. A powerful search and replace function supports regular expressions, making complex text manipulation tasks straightforward.
The macro recording and playback feature lets you automate repetitive editing tasks. The rich plugin ecosystem extends functionality with popular plugins for FTP access, spell checking, code comparison, and more. Notepad++ includes a built-in Function List panel for quick navigation within source code files.
Additional features include line bookmarking, brace and indent highlighting, simultaneous editing through column mode, and comprehensive document map navigation. The software is lightweight, launching almost instantly even on older hardware, while remaining feature-rich enough for professional development work.