PostColumn

Postcolumn is a term encountered in typography, publishing, and some document-processing systems. It refers to the region of a page or layout that follows a primary text column in a multi-column arrangement. In traditional newspaper and magazine design, a postcolumn area may hold notes, captions, or ancillary matter such as continuation indicators for articles that continue in another column or page. The postcolumn region can help balance page composition by providing space for marginal notes or smaller elements without intruding on the main column’s line length.

In digital typesetting and template systems, postcolumn may be a named region or block where editors place content to appear after the main column; its exact behavior depends on the software or templating language being used. The concept supports layout flexibility, allowing designers to place supplementary content—such as side notes, run-in headings, or cross-references—outside the main flow of text.

Mechanical considerations for postcolumn content include alignment with the column grid, width constraints, and how it interacts with gutters and other columns. Because postcolumn is not a universally standardized term, its precise meaning and implementation can vary between publishers and software tools.

See also: multi-column layout, column balance, column break, marginalia, footnote.