The text‐encoding initiative: Part 1

To present a concise introduction to and history of the Text Encoding Initiative (TEI).

Presents the TEI from a literature‐based, chronological perspective.

The de facto standard for electronic text encoding in the humanities, the Text Encoding Initiative (TEI), an international and interdisciplinary standard for the electronic representation of documents in the humanities, has influenced the development of the Extensible Markup Language (XML) family of standards, and has become an indispensable tool for building digital libraries.

Reinforces the primacy of TEI in the creation of interchangeable electronic texts, particularly in humanities disciplines.

The first part of a two‐part column, explains how the TEI came into being, how it has influenced the evolution of world wide web standards, and why it has become an integral tool for digital library development.