Editing Page header (section)

{{short description|Text that is separated from the body text and appears at the top of a page}}
[[Image:Header in a book.jpg|thumb|Header in a dictionary, consisting of a guide word.]]
In [[typography]] and [[word processor|word processing]], a '''page header''' (or simply '''header''') is text that is separated from the [[body text]] and appears at the top of a printed [[page (paper)|page]]. [[Word processor|Word-processing programs]] usually allow for the configuration of page headers, which are typically identical throughout a work except in aspects such as page numbers. 

The counterpart at the bottom of the page is called a [[page footer]] (or simply footer); its content is typically similar and often complementary to that of the page header.

In [[publishing]] and certain types of [[academic writing]], a '''running head''', less often called a '''running header''', '''running headline''' or '''running title''', is a header that appears on each standard page.<ref>{{cite web|title=Running head|url=http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=running%20head|work=WordNet|publisher=Princeton University}}</ref> Running heads do not usually appear on display pages such as [[Title page|title pages]], or on other front or [[Book design|back matter]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thebookdesigner.com/2014/03/how-to-design-running-heads-for-your-book/|title=How to Design Running Heads for Your Book|date=2014-03-31|work=The Book Designer|access-date=2018-03-12|language=en-US|quote=Running heads are never used on display pages such as the title, half title, chapter- and part-opening pages. They aren’t used on “matter” opening pages, like the first page of the Preface or the first page of the Table of Contents. Running heads are also omitted on pages that have only an illustration or a table on them. On the other hand, if there is any text at all, even one line, then running heads should appear on the page. If an entire section or run of pages contains only illustrations, running heads can be used to help orient the reader.}}</ref> Running heads in a book typically consist of the title on the left-hand ([[verso]]) page, and the chapter title on the right-hand ([[recto]]) page; or the chapter title on the verso and subsection title/subhead on the recto, aiding the reader's navigation by showing what content exists within the two-page spread at hand. 

A special case of the latter is in [[dictionary|dictionaries]], whose running heads are called '''guide words'''; they show the first [[headword]] and last headword on each page, to expedite the reader's navigation to a desired headword. In academic writing, the running head usually contains the page number along with the author's last name,<ref>{{cite book|last=Gibaldi|first=Joseph|title=MLA handbook for writers of research papers.|url=https://archive.org/details/mlahandbookforwr00asso|url-access=limited|year=2009|publisher=Modern Language Association of America|location=New York|isbn=978-1-60329-024-1|pages=[https://archive.org/details/mlahandbookforwr00asso/page/n138 117]–118|edition=7th}}</ref> or an abbreviated version of the title.<ref>{{cite book|title=Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.|year=2010|publisher=American Psychological Association|location=Washington|isbn=978-1-4338-0561-5|edition=6th|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/publicationmanua00ame_451}}</ref> The counterpart of the running head is the [[page footer|running foot]].

<gallery>
Živé_záhlaví.jpg|Header with highlighted current chapter title
Knižní_záhlaví.jpg|Header with the author's name and pagination
File:Záhlaví_na_straně.jpg|Header placed on the left hand side of page
File:Sadhupratikramanasutra.png|Header placed on the left hand side of page, [[pothi]] format
File:Záhlaví_sloužící_jako_orientační_systém_v_knize_365_typo_2..jpg
</gallery>