Technical communication uses a number of media platforms to provide information to a target audience. Sometimes, to really understand what something is, it's best to define what something is not. Technical communication is not journalistic writing, expressive writing, or creative literature. It does not use symbolism or vague literary references. Its purpose is not to entertain. Instead, technical writing is designed to inform or instruct an audience with a specific goal in mind.
Technical communication is clear, concise, and objective. Technical communication encompasses an expansive group of documents. It is not limited to information about computer systems or programming. Even companies that create products that are not necessarily 'technical' still employ technical communication to develop, manufacture, market, and explain consumer goods and services.
The value that technical communicators deliver is twofold: They make information more usable and accessible to those who need that information, and in doing so, they advance the goals of the companies or organizations that employ them.
