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When skimming, or speed reading, a reader quickly reviews the most important information in a text instead of reading every word. Skimming allows readers to grasp the major points of an article or a book without devoting the time and concentration required to review and comprehend each word. Skimming is used when reading nonfiction and is generally not appropriate when reading fiction.

Speed reading refers to several techniques used by people to read at a quicker pace than normal. Studies have shown that the average person can read at a rate of 200 to 400 words per minute. Some speed readers have claimed that their techniques allow them to read anywhere from 1,000 to 1,700 words per minute, though others question these results. The advent of smartphone technology and mobile application programs brought about a revival of speed reading in the 2010s. This revival has continued into the 2020s, with consumers being able to choose from a variety of speed-reading apps. The different methods of speed reading include skimming, meta guiding, chunking, and rapid serial visual presentation.