Popover

A popover is a small overlay anchored to an element, usually opened by a click, that can hold richer content including links and buttons.

Why it matters

Popovers let you reveal extra detail or controls in context without sending people to a new screen, keeping them focused on the task at hand.

In depth

The key difference from a tooltip is interactivity: a popover can contain clickable content like links and buttons, while a tooltip cannot. Because a popover usually opens on click and stays put until dismissed, people have time to read and interact with it. Keep its contents focused; a popover that grows too large is often better handled as a modal.

Real-world example

Clicking a profile avatar opens a popover with the person's name, role, and a 'View profile' button.

Try it

Tooltip · hover

Open settings

Popover · click

Related terms

Tooltip
Modal
Button
Progressive Disclosure

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