Spaltentitel

Spaltentitel is a typographic element used in multi-column page layouts to label or identify the content of an individual column. It serves as a quick reference for readers, indicating the column’s topic or section without repeating the main article headline. Spaltentitel are common in newspapers, magazines, catalogs, and academic journals that rely on a columnar format.

Typically, a spaltentitel appears at the top of a column, aligned with the column’s inner edge, and is visually distinct from the main headline. The label can be a short word or phrase, such as a topic name or section heading, for example “Wirtschaft” or “Lokales.” Design variations abound: a spaltentitel may be set in a smaller type size, bold or uppercase, and may use a contrasting font or color. In some layouts it is repeated for every column on a page or spans only a single column.

In editorial practice, spaltentitel are part of the overall page design and interact with other typographic elements like column rules, gutters, and white space. The term is primarily used in German-language typography, and in other contexts the equivalent concept may be described as a column heading or column label. Distinctions exist between spaltentitel and related terms such as spaltenüberschrift; the latter can refer more generally to headings that cover multiple columns or to headings positioned above a group of columns, whereas spaltentitel specifically label an individual column.

In contemporary digital publishing, the concept persists as a column header or label within responsive layouts, though exact terminology varies by publisher or software. Overall, spaltentitel guide readers through multi-column text by signaling the focus of each column.