A floating block is an independent element in a text that offers layout versatility, including figures, quotes, tables, and sidebars. They are common in academic textbooks and magazines and can be created using specific web coding and layout programs. Good placement is important for relevance to the overall text.
A floating block is an element that prints independently of the main flow of text on a page. This includes various forms of combined graphics, text, or inserts that serve various purposes within a published presentation of a piece of writing. A floating block offers versatility in layout and is usually labeled so that readers can understand its relationship to the larger text article.
A popular type of movable block is described as a “figure”. The figure could serve to illustrate some specific details within the text, or it could play a more general role. In either case, the figure is often presented in the margins of a page, centered between paragraphs of text, or in other out-of-the-way areas where white space surrounds the text. The figures are often on the same page so readers can find them easily, and often include specific descriptions that show the reader why the figure was included. They are especially common in academic textbooks.
A single quote or block of text could also be designated as a floating block. This is a common technique in magazines and similar media, where a quote in an interview might be emphasized in this way. The same goes for complex tables that are based on list-type information or images that illustrate a specific idea in the general text.
Some specific types of movable blocks include a sidebar, which can summarize a larger piece of writing, or a simple drawing that represents a sophisticated idea in physics or other sciences. The mobile block, as a rule, welcomes the idea that visual illustrations help many readers understand ideas that can be described accurately in a piece of text.
In modern publishing, movable blocks are treated in specific ways. In some types of web coding, there are unique commands that create a floating block. Modern layout programs will accommodate floating blocks to keep them separate from scrolling text and embed them where it’s most convenient; those involved in publishing and layout may need to be familiar with these programs to secure a job in this field.
Editors and writers might also consider floating blocks in a mockup or sketch layout. Typically, they will need to ensure that the floating blocks are placed close to the ideas they complement and that they will remain relevant to the overall text. Good placement may also require bundling and other elaborate techniques.
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