Technical Writing Terms

What Is a Callout?

A callout is a visual element that points to and identifies a specific part of an image or interface.

A callout is a visual element — often a numbered circle or a shape with a pointer — that points to and identifies a specific part of an image or interface. Callouts help guide the reader's attention to important elements and tie them to written steps.

Numbered callouts are especially useful when a single screenshot needs to reference several steps at once, letting you map "1, 2, 3" in the image to the matching instructions in the text.

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Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between a callout and an annotation?
A callout is a specific kind of annotation that labels or numbers a part of an image; "annotation" is the broader term for any marking added to a screenshot.

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