Sivunumero

Sivunumero is the number that indicates the sequential position of a page within a document. In publishing, it is typically printed in the header or footer, sometimes centered or aligned to the outside edge, and may be omitted on blank pages or the title page. The purpose is to help readers navigate and reference specific pages.

In Finnish publishing practice, sivunumero conventions often differentiate front matter from the main text. Front matter pages may use Roman numerals (i, ii, iii), while the main text uses Arabic numerals starting at 1. Page numbering can also restart at the beginning of each chapter in some layouts, and on double-sided books, page numbers may appear on alternating margins (recto and verso).

Formatting varieties include the position (top or bottom, header or footer), alignment (centered or edge-aligned), and whether numbers appear on odd pages, even pages, or both. Some pages, such as blank pages or the first title page, may intentionally lack a sivunumero for aesthetic or practical reasons.

In digital contexts, sivunumero is not always fixed. E-books and some PDFs may lack stable page numbers because font size and layout can change with settings or devices. Navigation is often provided by chapters, headings, or location-based markers rather than fixed page numbers. In web and print design, page numbers can be generated with styling and layout tools, and print workflows may include dedicated page counters to maintain consistent numbering across formats.