<fig> Figure

Block of graphic or textual material that is identified as a figure, usually bearing a caption and a label such as “Figure 3.” or “Figure”.

Usage/Remarks

A <fig> is defined as an element that would appear in the Table of Figures, if there were one.
The content of a <fig> need not be graphic in nature; the content of a figure may be a graphic, a list, several paragraphs, an equation, a display quote, a table, etc., or a mixture of several of these.
The @position attribute may be used to indicate whether this element must be anchored at its exact location within the text or whether it may float, for example, to the top of the next page, into the next column, to the end of a logical file, or within a separate window.

Best Practice

Tag unlabeled graphic objects as <graphic>s rather than <fig>s. A common test to determine if an object is a <fig> versus a <graphic> is to ask, “If there were a “List of Figures” for this document, should this object appear in that list?”

When Content is a Form

Two attributes are available to describe the figure when it contains a form:
  • @is-form can indicate that the figure contains a form. What constitutes a “form” is not defined by NISO STS.
  • @form-type can identify the type of the form. If the form is not one of the listed types, @custom-type may provide the type (see below).

Custom Form Type (@custom-type)

@form-type has as its values a fixed list of form types. If your form is not one of the listed types, you can use @custom-type to describe the form type. Set the value of @form-type to “custom” and also use @custom-type to hold any form type you require. For example:
<fig is-form="form" form-type="custom" 
    custom-type="template"...>...</fig>
Attributes

Base Attributes

Models and Context
May be contained in
Description
Content Model
<!ELEMENT  fig          %fig-model;                                  >
Expanded Content Model

((editing-instruction)*, (object-id)*, label?, (caption)?, (legend)*, (kwd-group)*, (subj-group)*, (alt-text | long-desc | email | ext-link | uri)*, (disp-formula | disp-formula-group | chem-struct-wrap | fn-group | fn | disp-quote | speech | statement | table-wrap | p | normative-note | non-normative-note | normative-example | non-normative-example | notes-group | def-list | list | alternatives | array | code | graphic | media | preformat)*, (attrib | permissions)*)

Tagged Samples
Typical figure
...
<sec id="s5_1">
 <label>5.1</label>
 <title>Two approaches to addressing accessibility in 
  standards</title>
 ...
 <p><xref ref-type="fig" rid="f1">Figure 1</xref> provides 
  a graphical summary of how this Guide can be used.</p>
 <fig id="f1" orientation="portrait" position="anchor">
  <label>Figure 1</label>
  <caption>
   <title>Two approaches to address accessibility in 
    standards</title>
  </caption>
  <graphic xlink:href="g3658.jpg"/>
 </fig>
 ...
</sec>
...
Figure whose caption includes table
...
<sec id="annB.1.1">
 <label>B.1.1</label>
 <title>Scanners with single axis reading diagram</title>
 <p>This category comprises all scanners with 
  a single, fixed reading beam ...</p>
 ...
 <fig id="fB.1">
  <label>Figure B.1</label>
  <caption>
   <title>Reading diagram for single-axis scanner</title>
   <p><table-wrap>
     <table>
      <thead>
       <tr><th align="center" colspan="2">Scanner with single 
        axis reading diagram</th></tr>
       <tr><th align="center">Parameter</th>
        <th align="center">Term</th></tr>
      </thead>
      <tbody>
       <tr><td align="center">A</td>
        <td>minimum reading distance</td></tr>
       <tr><td align="center">B</td>
        <td>depth of field</td></tr>
       <tr><td align="center">R</td>
        <td>maximum reading distance</td></tr>
      </tbody>
     </table>
    </table-wrap></p>
  </caption>
  <graphic position="anchor" xlink:href="f-b-1.png"/>
 </fig>
</sec>
...
Related Resources