Page header
A page header, commonly referred to simply as a header, is a designated section of text or elements positioned at the top margin of each page in printed documents, digital word processing files, or web pages, serving to display repetitive or introductory information separate from the main body content.[1] In traditional typography and printing, it typically includes elements like chapter titles, author names, or publication details to provide context and aid navigation across multi-page works.[2] This convention extends to modern word processing applications, where headers are editable sections used to insert uniform content such as page numbers, dates, or document titles on every page, with options for customization like excluding them from the first page.[3] In web design and development, the page header has evolved into a structural component that enhances user experience and branding, often encompassing a site's logo, primary navigation menu, search functionality, or contact details to facilitate quick access and establish visual identity from the outset.[4] This digital counterpart is semantically marked up using the HTML<header> element, which acts as a container for introductory content or navigational aids, such as headings, logos, or authorship information, and is supported across major browsers since around 2010.[5] Unlike metadata in the <head> section or protocol-specific HTTP headers, the page header focuses on visible, user-facing elements that improve site organization, search engine optimization, and accessibility by structuring content hierarchically.[1]