"Above the fold" is a term that originates from the newspaper industry, where the most important news stories are placed on the upper half of the front page, which is visible when the paper is folded for display or sale. In the context of web design and user experience (UX), "above the fold" refers to the portion of a webpage that is visible without scrolling.
The content placed "above the fold" is crucial as it's the first thing users see when they land on a webpage. It often includes key elements such as:
The website's logo and name
The main navigation menu
A headline or title
Key call-to-action (CTA) buttons
High-quality images or a slider
Brief introductory text or overview
The "above the fold" area plays a significant role in user engagement and conversion rates. It should be designed to grab the user's attention, provide key information, and guide them towards taking a desired action, such as signing up for a service, purchasing a product, or reading more content.
For example, on the Statsig blog, the "above the fold" area includes the Statsig logo, a navigation menu, the blog post title, author information, and the beginning of the blog post content. This design provides users with immediate information about the website and the specific blog post, encouraging them to continue reading.
It's important to note that the size of the "above the fold" area can vary depending on the user's screen size and resolution. Therefore, web designers often aim for responsive designs that adapt to different screen sizes, ensuring that the most important content remains "above the fold."