Know and understand the purpose of headers and footers

Resources | Subject Notes | Information Communication Technology ICT

ICT 0417 - Layout - Headers and Footers

ICT 0417 - Layout

13. Headers and Footers

Headers and footers are elements that appear at the top (header) and bottom (footer) of a document, such as a word processing document, web page, or report. They are used to provide consistent information across multiple pages and enhance the overall professional appearance of the document.

Purpose of Headers

  • Document Title: A concise title of the document.
  • Section Title: Indicates the current section of the document.
  • Author Name: Identifies the author of the document.
  • Date: Records the date the document was created or last modified.
  • Company Logo: Displays the logo of the organization.

Purpose of Footers

  • Page Number: Displays the current page number.
  • Document Title (repeated): Reinforces the document title on each page.
  • Author Name (repeated): Repeats the author's name for easy reference.
  • Date (repeated): Repeats the date for easy reference.
  • Copyright Information: Indicates copyright ownership and year.
  • Confidentiality Notice: Warns readers about the confidential nature of the document.

How to Insert Headers and Footers (General Steps - may vary slightly depending on the software used)

  1. Open the document in the word processing software (e.g., Microsoft Word, Google Docs).
  2. Go to the "Insert" menu.
  3. Select "Header" or "Footer".
  4. Choose a pre-designed header/footer style or create a custom one.
  5. Type the desired information into the header/footer area.
  6. Click "Close Header and Footer" or a similar option to exit the header/footer editing mode.
Feature Purpose Example
Document Title Identifies the document. "Project Proposal"
Section Title Indicates the current section. "1. Introduction"
Page Number Shows the current page number. "Page 5 of 10"
Copyright Notice Protects the document's intellectual property. © 2023 Your Organization
Suggested diagram: Example of a document with a header containing the document title and author, and a footer containing the page number.