Otsikkosolu

Otsikkosolu is a Finnish term formed from otsikko, meaning headline or title, and solu, meaning cell. In Finnish-language contexts it refers to a cell that contains a heading or label in a table, grid, or chart. The concept is primarily associated with data presentation and organization rather than a biological meaning.

In practice, otsikkosolut appear at the top of a column or along the side of a table to describe the data that follows. For example, a spreadsheet listing sales data might have otsikkosolut such as Date, Product, Quantity, and Revenue in the first row or first column. The purpose of these cells is to provide context and facilitate interpretation of the data.

Usage and terminology vary. While many Finnish speakers would simply say “header cell” or “column header” in software documentation, “otsikkosolu” is commonly understood in informal or educational contexts as the label-containing cell that identifies data categories. Some sources distinguish between otsikkosolu (the label cell) and otsikkorivi or otsikkosarake (the header row or header column), depending on orientation.

Relation to data quality is indirect but important: clear and consistent labeling in otsikkosolut improves readability, data manipulation, and analysis. The term is not a formal, standardized term in international software documentation, but it remains a recognizable expression in Finnish-language materials.

See also: otsikko, solu, header row, column header, table labeling.