intestazione

Intestazione is an Italian noun that denotes the heading or header of a document or page, the portion at the top that identifies its origin, author, subject, or context. It is commonly translated as “heading,” “header,” or, in the case of corporate documents, “letterhead.” The term covers both physical elements on paper and metadata in digital formats.

In printed materials, the intestazione typically includes information such as the sender’s or organization’s name and address, the recipient, date, reference numbers, and sometimes a logo. In business correspondence, the intestazione is often what appears on the top of a letter or invoice and serves to establish formality and authenticity. In publishing or typography, it can also refer to a running head or a section or chapter heading that appears near the top of pages.

In computing and information technology, intestazione is used to describe the header of a file or message. This includes HTTP headers in web communications, as well as file headers that precede the main content to convey metadata such as content type or encoding.

Related concepts include the related term intestatario (the person or entity named in the intestazione, such as the owner or account holder) and various forms of page or document headers, such as intestazione di pagina. The exact usage depends on the context, ranging from formal stationery to digital data structures.