Wordle is a widely popular web-based word game created by Welsh software engineer Josh Wardle, challenging players to guess a five-letter word in six attempts using colored tile feedback. Publicly released in October 2021, it rapidly went viral in late 2021, particularly after introducing a shareable emoji-based results format, leading to numerous adaptations and an astounding 4.8 billion plays in 2023. The game, which draws inspiration from classics like Mastermind, features a single daily puzzle chosen from a curated list of about 2,309 words. In January 2022, The New York Times Company acquired Wordle for a "low seven-figure sum," continuing its free model while introducing an editor, Tracy Bennett (November 2022), and enhancing features like WordleBot.