Google adds text formatting options to Google Chat web version

Google has added text formatting options to the web version of its messaging service Google Chat. This makes it easier for users to make text bold or italicized. Previously, only plain text or text format chat via Markdown was possible.

Google started making available rich text formatting at Google Chat. The option will be available to all Google Workspace customers and G Suite Basic and G Suite Business customers. From now on, they can click on an ‘A’ in the text input field to bring up the text formatting options and make text easy to bold, italicize or underline.

Until now, most users limited themselves to plain text with Google Chat, but the service already had support for text formatting. That went through Markdown. This is a simple markup language that users can use for example with **bold**, *italic* and [link web pages](can add formatting.

Google Chat is one of several Google chat services. Users can send direct messages to contacts, start group conversations and create spaces. The service is one of two successors to Google Hangouts, the other being Google Meet. In addition, Google Messages has a chat function. This is an Android service based on Rich Communication Services that can be seen as the successor to SMS and MMS.