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Headers and footers are areas at the top and bottom margins of pages in a document. They provide a place to repeat information across many pages, aiding navigation and identification. A header appears at the top of a page, while a footer appears at the bottom; both can contain text or graphics and can be configured to appear differently on the first page or on alternate pages in multipage, double-sided documents.

Common contents include page numbers, the document title, author name, date, chapter or section titles, and sometimes a company logo. Because headers and footers are defined separately from the main text, changes made to a header or footer propagate across all pages that use that definition. In longer documents, different sections may have distinct headers or footers.

Implementation is supported by most word processors, typesetting systems, and some print workflows. Users typically insert a header or footer, then add placeholders for page numbers or other metadata. It is common to enable a different header/footer for the first page, or to use distinct layouts for even and odd pages in books. In LaTeX, packages such as fancyhdr provide extensive customization; in HTML/CSS, print styles or fixed-position elements can emulate headers and footers for printed output.

Design considerations include readability and consistency: align content left, center, or right as appropriate; keep text concise; avoid crowding near margins; and ensure accessibility. Headers and footers are generally not part of the main content and should not distract from page body text. They serve as navigational aids and provide metadata, helping readers locate and identify material within a document.