Sections

A section is a subdivision of a larger document, often headed by a title or identifier. Sections group related material into discrete units, making a document easier to read, navigate, and reference. The term is used across writing, publishing, and information systems, and can be nested within higher-level divisions such as chapters or parts.

In formal writing and publishing, sections are numbered or labeled (for example, 1, 1.1, 2.3) to establish a hierarchical order. Topics within a section are treated as a coherent unit. Authors may use sections to guide readers through an argument, experiment, or narrative, and to enable precise cross-referencing.

In word processing, a section may refer to a segment of a document that can have independent formatting. Section breaks separate formatting such as headers, footers, margins, or orientation. This allows different parts of a single document to look distinct without changing page layout globally.

In legal and governmental drafting, sections define specific provisions, duties, or definitions. Sections are typically numbered and can be cited by their numbers, enabling precise reference and amendment.

In markup and web design, the HTML section element denotes thematically grouped content. Semantic sections support accessibility and search engines by signaling structure, and are often used alongside other regions such as article, nav, and aside.

Related concepts include chapters, subsections, and appendices. The precise meaning and limits of a section vary by context, but the guiding principle remains: dividing a larger whole into manageable, navigable units.