Caption text

A short text area accompanying an object appears as description or identification.

Visual traits

• short text area
• accompaniment to an object

Expected changes

• Short explanatory or identifying text accompanying an object is more likely to appear

Definition

Caption text is a short text area accompanying an image, diagram, or object to describe or identify it. It does not determine language, specific content, placement, typeface, medium, numbering, or source.

In more detail

It concerns short explanatory or identifying text accompanying an object. It is distinct from body text read continuously, a label that names an item, and a prominent headline.

Includes

• A short explanatory or identifying text area accompanying an image, diagram, or object

Excludes

• Language, specific content, placement, typeface, medium, numbering, or source

What this does not imply

• Language, specific content, placement, typeface, medium, numbering, or source

Variability

Text amount, position, relation to the object, and text appearance can be adjusted separately.

Usage

• Use it as short explanatory or identifying text accompanying an object

Distinguish similar expressions

• Specify language, content, placement, and typeface separately

Typical uses

• Add short explanatory text to an image or object

Possible failure modes

• It becomes fixed as body text, a label, or a headline