WhatsApp beta for Android gets new text formatting tools; here’s all you need to know

WhatsApp seems to be continuing its streak of adding new features to the platform consistently. The latest in line, as revealed in a WABetaInfo report, happens to be a bunch of new text formatting tools spotted on the latest version of WhatsApp Beta for Android v 2.24.2.9. Here’s all you need to know.

What WhatsApp’s new text formatting tools are and how they work

Meta-owned instant messaging platform WhatsApp has just received a bunch of new text formatting tools, which allow users to send code and quote blocks, as well as numbered lists, or texts in bullet points. This is in addition to the existing text formatting tools which allow users to send texts in bold, italics, as well as strikethrough.

The code block feature is meant to make sharing and reading code on your smartphones quickly and easily. While commonly used by programmers, it is also good for everyday use and can be used to highlight a specific part of a message. The quote block feature, on the other hand, can be used to reply toa specific part of a message.

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Similar to using an underscore for italicising texts, or using hyphens to send texts in bold, there are specific syntaxes using which you can send quote or code blocks, as well as numbered lists. They are as follows.

1. Code Blocks

Inserting “/” before and after a sentence will convert the text into a code block on the app.

2. Quote Blocks

Texts can be converted into quote blocks using the “>” symbol before and after a sentence.

3. Ordered lists

To send an ordered list, you just need to use the “-“ or “*” symbols before and after a sentence to create an ordered list. Creating a numbered list, on the other hand, is slightly simpler. All you need to do is type in a specific number with a period, followed by a space before starting your text. This will automatically create a numbered list.

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The new text formatting features, while new, have been doing the rounds in the rumour mills for quite some time now. Since October last year, in fact. The new text formatting features on WhatsApp, in addition to multi-account support, screen sharing for video calls, the ability to edit texts and media captions after they’ve been sent, or even the ability to send disappearing messages, add to the instant messaging platform’s utility all the more.

However, the text formatting features are still in beta, and when they will be rolled out the broader user base remains to be seen as of now.