Desktop publishing (DTP) software is designed to create visual communications such as brochures, business cards, greeting cards, web pages, posters, and more, for professional or personal printing online or on-screen.

Programs such as Adobe InDesign, Microsoft Publisher, QuarkXPress, and Scribus are examples of desktop publishing software. Professional graphic designers and commercial printers use some of these, while office workers, teachers, students, small business owners, and non-designers use others. Their choices depend on their capabilities, budget, and personal preference.

Among professionals, "desktop publishing software" primarily refers to professional, high-end page layout software applications such as Adobe InDesign and QuarkXPress.

Other applications and tools that are often lumped into the desktop publishing software category are better classified as graphics, web publishing, and presentation apps. Nevertheless, they play an important role in print and digital media. The DTP programs discussed here all perform the core task of assembling text and images into page layouts for publication.