White Paper

What Does White Paper Mean?

A white paper is an authoritative guide or report that explains the benefits of a particular technology, product or policy. White papers are published on the Web and in print by researchers, organization vendors and consultants. White papers are commonly used to describe the theory behind a new technology of computer methodology.

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Techopedia Explains White Paper

Historically, white papers were legislative documents that explained policies, actions and methodologies, and were often published to invite public comment. Today, white papers are divided into the following categories:

  • Policy: Supports a political solution to societal challenges
  • Technical: Describes the theory behind a specific new technology
  • Business/Marketing: Explains benefits of a methodology, product or technology
  • Hybrid: Combines business/marketing and technical white papers and may be used as sales tool

White papers streamline decisions and troubleshooting by explaining a particular topic, niche or industry, as follows: Development results and benchmark testing New technology Social or philosophical positions Organized or collaborative research recommendations

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…