Header vs Title

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Header

Top 2,000 (common)

Title

Top 1,000 (very common) A1 noun

Most common: Title

	Header	Title
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //ˈhɛdə// 🇺🇸 //ˈhɛdər//	🇬🇧 /["/ˈtaɪtl/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈtaɪtl/"]/
Meaning	The top part of something that shows information.	A name for a book, movie, or other work.
Example	The header of the report clearly states the topic.	The title of the book is very intriguing.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	-	A1
Part of speech		noun
Collocations	page header, email header, website header, section header	album, book, chapter, give something, page, sequence, character, under a/​the title, new, best-selling, book, publish, release, grand, long, courtesy, bear, have, inherit, grand, long, courtesy, bear, have, inherit, European, national, world, capture, claim, clinch, challenge, shot, defence/​defense
Antonyms	footer	subtitle, footer
Common mistakes	Confused with 'footers', which is the bottom part., Used in singular form when referring to multiple headers., Omitting necessary context, making it unclear what header refers to.	'Titling' used incorrectly as a verb instead of 'titled'., Confusing 'title' with 'headline' in news contexts., Using 'title' for proper names instead of 'name' in informal settings.
Usage notes	Used in various contexts such as documents, websites, and emails. Not commonly used in informal speech.	Use 'title' when referring to the name of a creative work. It's neutral and widely applicable, but avoid it in very casual contexts where people might use simpler terms.

See it in real clips

The Pitt › S1 E1

Oh, one of the med students took a header.

Better Call Saul › S1 E1

Clearly, you know how to take a header. Right?

The Pitt › S1 E1

Oh, one of the med students took a header.

Better Call Saul › S1 E1

Clearly, you know how to take a header. Right?

Header

Frequently asked questions: Header vs Title

What's the difference between Header and Title?

Header: The top part of something that shows information. Title: A name for a book, movie, or other work.

Which is more common: Header and Title?

Title is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Header: The header of the report clearly states the topic. Title: The title of the book is very intriguing.

Can I use Header and Title interchangeably?

Not always. Header and Title are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.