Footer vs. Header — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on November 2, 2023
Footer is the section at the bottom of a document or webpage; a header is at the top.
Difference Between Footer and Header
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A footer is found at the bottom of pages, containing information like copyrights and page numbers. Headers appear at the top of pages, often featuring titles or chapter names.
Footers serve as the conclusion, often overlooked but still pivotal for orientation. Headers introduce and guide, immediately noticed and setting the context.
While a footer may contain fine print or disclaimers, a header typically showcases primary information or navigation menus.
Headers are about first impressions, the start of a journey on a page. Footers conclude that journey, providing auxiliary information.
In digital terms, footers are often static, consistent across pages; headers can change, highlighting different sections or functions.
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Comparison Chart
Position
Bottom of a page/document
Top of a page/document
Content Type
Secondary, supportive information
Primary, introductory information
Frequency
Constant throughout a document
Can vary, especially in digital interfaces
User Interaction
Less interactive, often static
More interactive, contains navigation links
Design Focus
Minimal, less prominent
Prominent, often designed to attract attention
Compare with Definitions
Footer
End part of a structure.
The footer of the email had the company's disclaimer.
Header
Beginning part of a structure.
The header of the letter included the sender's address.
Footer
Final detail area in documents.
Each page had a footer with the page number.
Header
Introduction zone on webpages.
The website's header features a navigation menu.
Footer
Bottom section of a page.
The footer contained the document's publication date.
Header
A shot or pass made with the head.
Footer
Bottom margin area in software.
She customized the footer in the spreadsheet.
Header
A headlong fall or dive.
Footer
Concluding zone on webpages.
The website footer lists all affiliate links.
Header
A brick or stone laid at right angles to the face of a wall.
Footer
One that is an indicated number of feet in height or length. Often used in combination
A six-footer.
Header
A line or block of text appearing at the top of each page of a book or document.
Footer
Textual information, such as a title, date, or page number, positioned in the bottom margin of a page and usually repeated throughout a document.
Header
A raised tank of water maintaining pressure in a plumbing system.
Footer
See footing.
Header
A person who ropes a steer by its head (as opposed to its heels), especially in a team-roping rodeo event
The steer ran straight and the header made a good catch
Footer
(archaic) A footgoer; pedestrian
Header
A mad or foolish person.
Footer
(computing) A line of information printed at the bottom of a page to identify the contents. (Compare foot in printing.)
Header
One that fits a head on an object.
Footer
(in combination) Something that measures a stated number of feet in some dimension.
The new boat is a six-footer.
Header
One that removes a head from an object, especially a machine that reaps the heads of grain and passes them into a wagon or receptacle.
Footer
(in combination) Someone who has a preference for using a certain foot.
A right-footer
Header
A pipe that serves as a central connection for two or more smaller pipes.
Footer
Football / soccer.
Header
A floor or roof beam placed between two long beams that supports the ends of the tailpieces.
Footer
To meddle with or pass time without accomplishing anything meaningful.
Header
A brick or stone laid at a right angle to the face of a wall so that only its short end is showing. Also called bonder.
Footer
A person who travels by foot.
Header
(Informal) A headlong dive or fall.
Footer
(used only in combinations) the height or length of something in feet;
He is a six-footer
The golfer sank a 40-footer
His yacht is a 60-footer
Header
(Sports) A pass or shot made in soccer by heading the ball.
Footer
A person who travels by foot
Header
Textual information, such as a title, date, or page number, positioned in the top margin of a page and usually repeated throughout a document.
Footer
A printed note placed below the text on a printed page
Header
A raised tank or hopper that maintains a constant pressure or supply to a system, especially the small tank that supplies water to a central heating system.
Header
The upper portion of a page (or other) layout.
If you reduce the header of this document, the body will fit onto a single page.
Header
Text, or other visual information, used to mark off a quantity of text, often titling or summarizing it.
Your header is too long; "Local Cannibals" will suffice.
Header
Text, or other visual information, that goes at the top of a column of information in a table.
That column should have the header "payment status".
Header
(informal) A font, text style, or typesetting used for any of the above.
Parts of speech belong in a level-three header. Level-two headers are reserved for the name of the language.
Header
(computing) The first part of a file or record that describes its contents.
The header includes an index, an identifier, and a pointer to the next entry.
Header
(programming) header file
Header
(networking) the first part of a packet or stream, often containing its address and descriptors.
The encapsulation layer adds an eight-byte header and a two-byte trailer to each packet.
Header
(masonry) A brick that is laid sideways at the top of a wall or within the brickwork with the short side showing.
This wall has four header courses.
Header
A horizontal structural or finish piece over an opening.
Header
A machine that separates and gathers the heads of grain etc.
They fed the bale into the header.
Header
(soccer) The act of hitting the ball with the head.
His header for the goal followed a perfect corner kick.
Header
(soccer) Someone who heads the ball.
Diving header
Header
A headlong fall, jump or dive.
The clown tripped over the other clown and took a header.
Header
A raised tank that supplies water at constant pressure, especially to a central heating and hot water system.
Header
A pipe which connects several smaller pipes.
Common practice is to use plastic pipes with iron headers.
Header
The rodeo performer who drives the steer toward the heeler to be tied.
Header
One who puts a head on something.
Header
To strike (a ball) with one's head.
Header
One who, or that which, heads nails, rivets, etc., esp. a machine for heading.
Header
One who heads a movement, a party, or a mob; head; chief; leader.
Header
A brick or stone laid with its shorter face or head in the surface of the wall.
Header
A reaper for wheat, that cuts off the heads only.
Header
A fall or plunge head first, as while riding a bicycle, or a skateboard, or in bathing; - sometimes, implying the striking of the head on the ground; as, to take a header.
Header
A line of text serving to indicate what the passage below it is about;
The heading seemed to have little to do with the text
Header
Horizontal beam used as a finishing piece over a door or window
Header
Brick that is laid sideways at the top of a wall
Header
A framing member crossing and supporting the ends of joists, studs, or rafters so as to transfer their weight to parallel joists, studs, or rafters
Header
A machine that cuts the heads off grain and moves them into a wagon
Header
(soccer) the act of hitting the ball with your head
Header
A headlong jump (or fall);
He took a header into the shrubbery
Header
Top section of a page.
The header displayed the title of the report.
Header
Primary detail area in documents.
The header had the company's logo.
Header
Top margin area in software.
He inserted the chapter name into the header.
Common Curiosities
Do footers contain important information?
Yes, but usually less critical than what's in headers.
Can footers be customized?
Yes, footers can be customized with different text or graphics.
What typically goes in a header?
Titles, chapter names, dates, or navigation menus.
What might be included in a website footer?
Contact information, terms of use, site map, or social media links.
How do headers affect webpage design?
Headers can significantly influence user experience and site navigation.
Is it possible to have multiple footers in a document?
Yes, but typically there is one footer per page.
What is a footer in a document?
It's the section at the bottom that often contains page numbers and copyright information.
Are headers and footers always present in documents?
Most documents have them, but they are not mandatory.
Can headers vary within a document?
Yes, headers can change to reflect different sections or chapters.
Can footers help with navigation?
Yes, especially on websites where they may include links to main pages or sections.
Do footers on webpages improve SEO?
Properly structured footers can help with site indexing but have limited SEO impact.
Are headers considered part of a page's content?
Yes, they are integral to the content and its structure.
How do footers contribute to a user's experience on a website?
They offer easy access to additional information without cluttering the main content.
In emails, are headers and footers important?
Yes, they provide context such as who the email is from (header) and disclaimers or unsubscribe information (footer).
Can headers be different on each page of a document?
Yes, headers can be varied to indicate new sections or topics.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
