stilformat

Stilformat is a term used in typography and digital publishing to describe a system of predefined style formats that govern the presentation of text and elements while leaving the underlying structure intact. The concept emphasizes the separation of content from presentation, allowing authors to assign semantic roles such as heading, body text, caption to content that is then rendered by a style mechanism.

The term is used primarily in European publishing software and has analogs in style sheet frameworks. Stilformat emerged with desktop publishing in the late 20th century as editors sought reusable visual templates to ensure visual coherence across documents and languages.

Key features include a catalog of style definitions (fonts, sizes, colors, spacing), hierarchical rules for headings and lists, and context-driven styling, where the same document structure can be presented in different visual themes without changing content.

Stilformat can be implemented via style sheets, templates, or style guides within word processors, typesetting systems, or web technologies. It supports localization by adjusting typographic rules per language while preserving document structure.

Proponents argue that stilformat improves accessibility, consistency, and reusability, while critics note that rigid style systems can hinder creativity or complicate collaboration if definitions are not shared. See also style sheet, CSS, document formatting, and typesetting concepts related to separating content from presentation.