tooltips
Pop-up helper text
Tooltips are small pop-up text boxes that appear when you hover over or tap an interface element, providing brief explanations or labels.
They're common in software and websites, offering context without cluttering the screen: Hover over the icon to see the tooltip.
A tooltip typically disappears when you move away from the element.
Appearing suddenly, briefly
- hoverRemain suspended midair
- mouseoverCursor positioned without clicking
- balloonInflatable rubber sac
- bubbleAir-filled film sphere
overlay · cursor · icon · indicator · UI · UX · widget · element
Assistance given
- hintIndirect suggestion
- guidanceAdvice for decisions
- explanationStatement making something clear
- promptIncite to action
assistive · accessibility · onboarding · walkthrough · discoverability
Written or printed words
- labelIdentifying attachment or marker
- messageTransmitted communication
- annotationAdded explanatory comment
- descriptionAccount of characteristics
caption · summary · definition · clarification · note · alt text · microcopy · truncated
Warning or watchfulness
- reminderMemory aid
- notificationFormal notice given
- warningAlert about danger
- error messageSoftware's complaint about problems
validation · status · feedback · confirmation
pop-up
Appearing suddenly, briefly
bubble · overlay · cursor · icon · indicator · UI · UX · widget · element · pointer
help
Assistance given
- hintIndirect suggestion
- guidanceAdvice for decisions
- explanationStatement making something clear
prompt · assistive · accessibility · onboarding · walkthrough · discoverability
text
Written or printed words
- labelIdentifying attachment or marker
- messageTransmitted communication
- annotationAdded explanatory comment
description · caption · summary · definition · clarification · note · alt text · microcopy · truncated · character limit
alert
Warning or watchfulness
- reminderMemory aid
- notificationFormal notice given
- warningAlert about danger
error message · validation · status · feedback · confirmation
- UX designuser research, wireframing, user experience, user testing, user needs
- game writingdialogue, strategy guides, walkthroughs, lore, backstory
- onboardingonboarding, first day, employee handbook, welcome packet, welcome kit
- UI elementsbutton, menu, buttons, menus, icon
- UI/UXUI, UX, wireframes, wireframe, mockups
- code editorsautocomplete, debugger, breakpoints, line numbers, indentation
tooltipsuser manuals
Documentation explaining product operation
documentation · reference guides · technical documentation · tutorials · comprehensive guides