Most of what readers encounter online or in print takes the shape of a discrete written unit. An article is a self-contained piece of news or feature writing that reports events, explains issues, or explores a subject in depth.

Articles range from brief hard-news items built on the inverted pyramid to long-form features that develop character and scene. They usually carry a headline, byline, and dateline, and they follow house style for attribution, numbers, and structure. Editors shape the raw draft into the published form.

Digital platforms have stretched the boundaries—articles now incorporate interactive graphics, embedded video, and update timestamps—yet the core expectation remains: a coherent, sourced account that stands on its own. Readers still measure a news site by the quality of its articles.

• Self-contained written news or feature piece
• Ranges from brief reports to long-form features
• Typically includes headline, byline, and sourcing
• Core product of most news organizations