UI Design
Tooltip
A tooltip is a small label that appears when someone hovers over or focuses an element, offering a brief explanation or hint.
Why it matters
Tooltips let you add helpful context without cluttering the screen, which is useful for icons or controls whose purpose isn't obvious.
In depth
A tooltip should hold short, non-essential text only and cannot contain interactive content like links or buttons, since it disappears as soon as the pointer moves away. If you need something clickable inside the overlay, reach for a popover instead. Avoid hiding critical information in a tooltip, because it is invisible until triggered and often unreachable on touch screens.
Real-world example
Hovering over a small gear icon shows a tooltip reading 'Settings', confirming what the icon does before you click.
Tooltip · hover
Open settingsPopover · click
Related terms