If you develop code, you are aware of the difficulties of conveying it digitally. The code may be changed based on how you send it, or you might not be able to communicate it digitally at all.
Many instant messaging platforms are now incorporating aspects that allow for the sharing of code. Meta has upgraded WhatsApp for iOS to include text formatting, and it appears that Android users may soon follow suit.
WhatsApp is introducing new text formatting options like code blocks, quote blocks, and lists in the latest Android beta version 2.24.2.9, as reported by WABetaInfo. WhatsApp functionality was previously spotted in development and is now available to some beta testers.
WhatsApp new formatting tools, including the code block, quote block, and lists features, benefit coders by preserving code formatting in messages. However, they can also be used by anyone to make stylistic changes to their texts.
WhatsApp builds on previous formatting options like bold, italics, etc. introduced in 2017 and sets WhatsApp apart from competitors like Signal which launched similar formatting features in 2023.
The wider rollout of text formatting shows Meta’s focus on improving WhatsApp messaging and responding to user needs in a competitive landscape of instant messaging services.