notchbased

Notchbased is an adjective used primarily in reference to design and content that accounts for the presence of a display notch on many modern mobile devices. The term combines notch with based, signaling a design approach that is built around the screen cutout rather than assuming a seamless, notch-free display.

Origin and usage: Notchbased design emerged as notched displays became common in smartphones in the mid-2010s. In practice, notchbased design emphasizes awareness of the notch area when arranging user interface elements, status indicators, and typography. It contrasts with edge-to-edge or notchless design strategies that presume a rectangular display without a notch.

In user interface design, notchbased typically involves safe-area calculations, adaptive padding, and dynamic layout adjustments to avoid content being obscured by the notch and to keep critical information visible. It can influence decisions about where to place icons, notification banners, and status-bar styling to preserve legibility near the cutout.

Criticism and alternatives: Some designers prefer notch-aware or notch-agnostic approaches, arguing that relying on the notch for layout can complicate cross-device compatibility. In practice, modern design systems often implement responsive or safe-area aware logic that accommodates various notch shapes and placements.

See also: notch (display), safe area, responsive design, mobile UI, notch-aware design.