Most code editors are similar to notepad.exe in that they are "text editors", but unlike notepad.exe they have functionality built into them to send the code into the compiler.

Notepad’s history also contains some interesting tidbits. The Windows XP source code leak revealed unused status bar codes meant to show file info.

Microsoft has added bold, italics, lists, hyperlinks, and even Markdown to the Windows Notepad app, making it look more and more like the now-defunct WordPad.

Microsoft is bringing tabbed Notepad to more users and has a new option to copy 2FA codes from notification toasts.

Notepad now lets you use markdown text formatting on Windows 11, which means you can write in Notepad just like you could in WordPad.