Fußnote

Fußnote, plural Fußnoten, is a note placed at the bottom of a page in German-language texts. It provides supplementary information, explanations, or bibliographic references related to a specific part of the main text without interrupting the reading flow. The marker in the main text is usually a superscript numeral or symbol that refers to the corresponding note at the bottom of the page.

Fußnoten can contain sources, brief comments, translations, or clarifications. They may include full bibliographic details or short citations, depending on the selected style. There is variation in whether numbering restarts on every page or continues throughout the document.

Fußnoten differ from Endnoten, which are collected at the end of a chapter or document. Historically, footnotes arose with the spread of printing in early modern Europe as a means to provide sources and commentary without breaking the main text. In German publishing, Fußnoten remain a common feature in scholarly and reference works.

With modern word processors, inserting Fußnoten is automated: a marker in the text links to the note at the bottom, and the format adapts to layout. The style and placement of Fußnoten are governed by house rules or publication standards, but the fundamental function remains the same: to annotate, cite, or explain in a way that supports the main narrative.