What Are Headers and Footers in Microsoft Word?

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Headers and footers in Microsoft Word refer to tiny pieces of information, such as page numbers, that can be very important when producing a document. Headers and footers can also include dates, book titles, chapter titles and the name of the author. A header will appear along the top of a Microsoft Word document, and a footer will appear along the bottom of a document.

A header or footer is similar to the way pages appeal in a hard cover or paperback book. There are often chapter titles, or the title of the book at the top and bottom of the pages, as well as page numbers and other information. Depending on the version of Microsoft Word that is used, a simple header or footer, such as a page number can be inserted by the document creator going to the Header or Footer tab under “Insert.”

The date and time is another header or footer that can be inserted into a Word document by going to the “Insert” tab. Date and time can also be set automatically to be included in documents by checking the box that reads “Update automatically.” To insert file names or paths, a user can also go to the “Insert” tab and choose “Quick Parts,” followed by “Field.”