A header, appearing at the top of each page of a document, provides consistent information throughout. This often includes the title, author’s name, or a shortened version thereof, and is commonly employed in academic papers, reports, and other formal documents created using word processing software. For instance, a dissertation might display a condensed title and the author’s surname in the header section of every page.
Implementing these consistently formatted page headers lends professionalism and facilitates navigation through lengthy documents. It enhances readability by orienting the reader and ensuring key identifying information remains readily visible. Historically, the practice of using running headers dates back to early printing methods, where printers would manually set head matter on each page to aid readers in referencing specific sections.