Online help is topic-oriented, procedural or reference information delivered through computer software. It is a form of user assistance. Most online help is designed to give assistance in the use of a software application or operating system, but can also be used to present information on a broad range of subjects. When online help is linked to the state of the application (what the user is doing), it is called Context-sensitive help.
Online help has largely replaced live customer support. Before its availability, support could only be given through printed documentation (limited), mail (long wait) or telephone (expensive).
