What Is Wordle? A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Play

What Is Wordle? A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Play What started as a modest gift from software engineer Josh Wardle to his partner has become a daily ritual for millions. Wordle is a browser-based puzzle game, now owned by The New York Times, where players have six chances to guess a secret five-letter word. The Rules of the Game The interface is a simple 5-wide by 6-deep grid. You type a valid five-letter word and hit enter. The tiles then change color to provide immediate feedback: Green: The letter is correct and in the exact right spot. Yellow: The letter exists in the hidden word but is currently in the wrong position. Gray: The letter is not in the word at all. Strategic Gameplay Success relies on logic and elimination. Your first guess is critical—choose a word rich in vowels and common consonants like "ADIEU," "RAISE," or "STARE" to maximize information. If you get a Green 'A', keep it there. If you get a Yellow 'R', try it in a different slot in the next row. If a letter turns Gray, do not use it again. The Social Hook The brilliance of Wordle is its scarcity—there is only one puzzle per day, and everyone plays the same one. Once finished, you can share your results via a grid of colored emojis. This allows you to brag about your speed without spoiling the answer for others. It is the perfect, low-stakes mental workout.