# What Is Cursor? (AI Built Into Your Code Editor)

First: What Is a Code Editor?

A code editor is the program where you write code. Think of it like Microsoft Word, but for code instead of essays. It color-codes different parts of your code, catches typos, and helps you navigate large projects.

The most popular code editor is VS Code (Visual Studio Code) by Microsoft — it is free and used by millions of developers.

What Cursor Does Differently

Cursor is a code editor that looks and works exactly like VS Code, but has AI built directly into it. Instead of AI being an add-on or a separate chat window, Cursor makes AI part of the writing experience itself.