microexplainers
Microexplainers are brief, self-contained explanations designed to clarify a single concept, term, feature, or claim. They are typically concise, aiming for immediate understanding without requiring a longer article. They can appear as standalone blocks, inline hints, or short notes within other content, including articles, apps, dashboards, and websites.
Common formats include short text blurbs, glossary entries, tooltips, onboarding tours, quick infographics, and short videos.
Purposes and use cases: reduce cognitive load, aid decision-making, and support learning. In journalism, microexplainers help
Design considerations and limitations: designers should balance brevity with accuracy, avoid oversimplification, and ensure up-to-date sourcing.
Relation to related concepts: microexplainers differ from long-form explainers, jargon glossaries, or FAQs. They’re related to