Literacy is the ability to read, write, understand, and use written information well enough to function in everyday life and participate in society.

What is literacy?

At its core, literacy used to mean simply “being able to read and write.” Today, major organizations like UNESCO define literacy more broadly as the ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate, and even compute using printed and written materials in different contexts. That means literacy includes not just basic decoding of words, but using written information to learn, solve problems, and reach personal goals at home, at work, and in the community.

Key elements of literacy

  • Reading: understanding and making sense of written texts, from simple signs to complex articles.
  • Writing: expressing ideas clearly in written form for different purposes and audiences.
  • Numeracy: basic ability to compute and work with numbers in everyday tasks (bills, measurements, forms).
  • Communication: using language (often including speaking and listening) effectively in real-life situations.
  • Use in context: applying these skills at work, in family life, and in the wider community to achieve goals and make decisions.

Modern views: more than just reading and writing

Recent perspectives see literacy as a continuum rather than a simple “literate/illiterate” label. People can have different levels and types of literacy, such as being strong with everyday texts but struggling with technical documents. In a digital, fast-changing world, literacy increasingly overlaps with digital skills, media literacy, and information skills (for example, judging online sources or filling out digital forms).