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Software Engineering vocabulary · Web, Mobile and Interface Development

Tooltip

Meaning in software engineering, with examples

/ˈtuːltɪp/nounCommon term

In software engineering, tooltip means: A small text box that appears when users hover over, focus on or tap an element, giving a short explanation or the name of an icon.

In Turkish: ipucu balonu, bilgi balonu, tooltip

How it is used

Useful for labelling icon buttons or explaining a term. Touchscreens have no hover, so important information should not be hidden only in a tooltip. Tooltips should also open with keyboard focus.

Example sentences

  1. Add a tooltip to the info icon that explains what 'net price' means.

  2. On mobile, nobody sees the tooltip because there's no hover.

Common collocations

  • show a tooltip
  • tooltip text
  • hover tooltip
  • info tooltip
  • hover stateThe way an element looks when the mouse pointer is over it, for example a button getting darker, which shows that it can be clicked.
  • iconA small picture or symbol that stands for an action, object or idea, such as a magnifying glass for search or a bin for delete.
  • onboardingThe first screens a new user goes through after installing an app, which explain the main features, ask for permissions or help set up an account.
  • microcopyThe short pieces of text in an interface, such as button labels, hints, error messages and confirmations, that guide users through a task.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Web, Mobile and Interface Development

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