Superscripted

Superscripted refers to text or symbols that appear above the normal baseline, typically smaller in size. In typography and digital text, a superscripted element is placed higher than surrounding characters to convey meaning distinct from the main line of text. The term is often used to describe formatting applied to a portion of content, whether for mathematical notation, chemical notation, or reference markers.

In mathematics and science, superscripted notation is widespread for exponents and powers, as in x2 or a3. In chemistry and physics, superscripts denote ionic charges, oxidation states, or isotopes, such as Fe3+ or 14C. Superscripts are also used in uniform formatting for footnotes and endnotes, where a small number appears superscripted beside a term to indicate a corresponding note.

In computing and digital typography, superscript formatting can be implemented with markup or styling. HTML uses the sup element to render superscripts, while CSS can position text with vertical-align: super. Many fonts provide dedicated superscript characters for certain digits and letters, but support varies by font and platform, so rendering can be inconsistent across environments.

Accessibility and readability considerations apply to superscripted text. Overuse or reliance on visual cues without semantic meaning can hinder screen readers and assistive technologies. When superscripts encode important information, authors are advised to preserve semantic structure through appropriate markup or alternative descriptions to ensure content remains clear to all readers. In practice, superscripted notation remains a common, versatile tool across disciplines and digital media.