Difference between Hypertext and Hypermedia

As the internet has evolved, programmers have created more complex methods for reading web pages. Hypertext is one such approach. Hypertext is composed of nonlinear linkages that connect to text inside the same or different texts. It uses hyperlinks to connect papers to form a network. Although comparable to hypertext, hypermedia is not confined to text elements. In addition to text, it refers to various media, including music, photos, video, and animation.

In this article, you will learn about the difference between Hypertext and Hypermedia. But before discussing the differences, you must know about Hypertext and Hypermedia with their advantages and disadvantages.

What is Hypertext?

Hypertext is a cross-referencing technology that uses hyperlinks to connect links to other text. Hypertext differs from the traditional text in that it is nonlinear and multi-sequential. One organized approach to presenting information is achieved with the use of hypertext. It causes the user to navigate from one section of information to another, whether on the same page or on another. It simplifies documentation by making it easily available to the end user.

Example

Let's look at what a node is now. Each data component in a network is known as a node, and these nodes connect to other nodes via a link or pointer. This idea is utilized on websites where the hypertext written over a webpage includes a hyperlink to either the other text alone or to the other webpage.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Hypertext

There are various advantages and disadvantages of hypertext. Some main advantages and disadvantages of hypertext are as follows:

Advantages

1. Hypertext allows for fast and easy access to information with minimal browsing.
2. New information outside of the person's competence, such as statistics or professional images of an event, can be attached.
3. It promotes free expression by allowing everyone to view and express their thoughts on an already discussed topic on the internet.

Disadvantages

1. Hypertext may present false information. For instance, if an image is connected to a paragraph giving an opinion on a politically contentious topic, the selective connection may be irrelevant or biased. When given out of context or interpreted as factual, uneducated or personal ideas might cause problems.
2. Frequently, there is no extra credibility for the original author. Only a portion from prior works is immediately linked, with no background information. Users may only see the credibility if they go beyond the hypertext.
3. Information may be untrustworthy.

What is Hypermedia?

Hypermedia is an extension of hypertext that contains many forms of media, such as text, images, audio, or video, as opposed to hypertext, which is only text-based. It allows you to connect web pages to form a network containing multimedia elements with a single click for a more comprehensive multimedia experience. Hypermedia enables links to be embedded in multimedia elements such as images and videos, and clicking on them leads us to that page.

Example

YouTube is an example of hypermedia. It includes hypertext and video entries, and hyperlink buttons in the videos. The user will be directed to the video owner's blog by clicking on these buttons. Overall, hypermedia improves access to information and provides a better multimedia experience.

Key differences between Hypertext and Hypermedia

Here, you will learn the various key differences between Hypertext and Hypermedia. Various differences between Hypertext and Hypermedia are as follows:

1. Hypertext is simply text that includes links to other sections of text, where the user can be transferred by clicking a mouse button or pressing a key. The documents are connected by hyperlinks, allowing users to navigate between them on the same or different websites. In contrast, hypermedia is an extension of the term hypertext, which is also utilized in a similar manner but is not limited to text elements. Hypermedia actually includes various media morphologies or aspects, including audio, pictures, video, and still or moving graphics.
2. Hypertext technology extends beyond simply clicking and accessing "go to" links on the internet from one place to another. The concept of hypertext can be applied to various apps, and the degree of dynamic linking in hypertext is not restricted to the internet. Moreover, it may be utilized for electronic research, literary investigation, and qualitative research. In contrast, a hypermedia app may be referred to as a network of interrelated documents linked together by substantial cross-referencing technologies like hypertext. The World Wide Web (WWW) is the main example of hypermedia.
3. Hypermedia is the parent of all forms of graphics since it uses them to link different types of media on a webpage or website. In contrast, hypertext only comprises text that is a part of images. As a result, hypertext is a form of hypermedia.
4. Hypertext is an interconnected network of texts and other media that are linked together. In an electronic format, it may contain either static or dynamic content. Static content is that which may be delivered directly to end users without modification, whereas dynamic information may change according to the user inputs. In contrast, hypermedia is the next level of multimedia experience that expands on the idea of hypertext connections to include text along with many other multimedia components like audio, video, and graphics.
5. The usage of hypertext encourages the user to move across the document and move from one page to another. On the other hand, hypermedia attracts users more than hypertext because it offers more flexibility in movement.
6. The hypertext enables the user to navigate through text in a nonlinear way. On the other hand, hypermedia incorporates multimedia to enhance the multimedia experience.
7. Users offer a minimum user experience with hypertext than hypermedia. On the other hand, hypermedia offers a better user experience than hypertext.

Head-to-head comparison between the Hypertext and Hypermedia

Here, you will learn the head-to-head comparisons between Hypertext and Hypermedia. The main differences between Hypertext and Hypermedia are as follows:

Conclusion

The terms hypertext and hypermedia refer to a structure consisting of nodes linked together, except that in hypermedia systems, the node may include numerous types of media like text, pictures, audio, video, and graphics. The key distinction is in how they are executed. Hypertext is utilized to express multimedia data in electronic text format, while hypermedia combines both hypertext and multimedia to enable nonlinear access to a wealth of information. The purpose of hypermedia is to expand the potential of multimedia elements to make information more interactive and accessible than it was earlier. The entire concept of the World Wide Web is built on the concepts of hypertext and hypermedia.