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<h3 class="section" id="What-Is-groff_003f-1">1.2 What Is <code class="code">groff</code>?</h3>
<a class="index-entry-id" id="index-what-is-groff_003f"></a>
<a class="index-entry-id" id="index-groff_002d_002d_002dwhat-is-it_003f"></a>

<p><code class="code">groff</code> (GNU <code class="code">roff</code>) is a typesetting system that reads plain
text input files that include formatting commands to produce output in
PostScript, PDF, HTML, DVI, or other formats, or for display to a
terminal.  Formatting commands can be low-level typesetting primitives,
macros from a supplied package, or user-defined macros.  All three
approaches can be combined.
</p>
<p>A reimplementation and extension of the typesetter from <abbr class="acronym">AT&amp;T</abbr>
Unix, <code class="code">groff</code> is present on most <abbr class="acronym">POSIX</abbr> systems owing to
its long association with Unix manuals (including man pages).  It and
its predecessor are notable for their production of several best-selling
software engineering texts.  <code class="code">groff</code> is capable of producing
typographically sophisticated documents while consuming minimal system
resources.
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