Tooltip

A tooltip is a small, contextual pop-up that appears when a user hovers over or focuses on an element. It provides brief, supplementary information that helps clarify an element's function or meaning without cluttering the interface.

When to use

Labeling icon-only controls

Use a tooltip to reveal the function of an icon-only button (e.g., a gear icon with a "Settings" tooltip).

Labeling icon-only controls

Use a tooltip to reveal the function of an icon-only button (e.g., a gear icon with a "Settings" tooltip).

Labeling icon-only controls

Use a tooltip to reveal the function of an icon-only button (e.g., a gear icon with a "Settings" tooltip).

Displaying truncated text

Show the full text when a piece of text in the UI has been truncated with an ellipsis.

Displaying truncated text

Show the full text when a piece of text in the UI has been truncated with an ellipsis.

Displaying truncated text

Show the full text when a piece of text in the UI has been truncated with an ellipsis.

Providing context

Offer short, helpful clarifications for charts, data points, or form fields where a permanent label is not necessary.

Providing context

Offer short, helpful clarifications for charts, data points, or form fields where a permanent label is not necessary.

Providing context

Offer short, helpful clarifications for charts, data points, or form fields where a permanent label is not necessary.

When to avoid

Critical information

Never place essential information that a user must see to complete their task inside a tooltip. Content should be supplementary.

Critical information

Never place essential information that a user must see to complete their task inside a tooltip. Content should be supplementary.

Critical information

Never place essential information that a user must see to complete their task inside a tooltip. Content should be supplementary.

Interactive content

Avoid placing interactive elements like links, inputs, or buttons inside a tooltip. For interactive pop-ups, use a popover component.

Interactive content

Avoid placing interactive elements like links, inputs, or buttons inside a tooltip. For interactive pop-ups, use a popover component.

Interactive content

Avoid placing interactive elements like links, inputs, or buttons inside a tooltip. For interactive pop-ups, use a popover component.

Touch devices

Tooltips are primarily a desktop pattern triggered by hover. They are difficult to use on mobile and other touch-based devices. Consider alternative patterns like a bottom sheet or a toggleable info icon for these contexts.

Touch devices

Tooltips are primarily a desktop pattern triggered by hover. They are difficult to use on mobile and other touch-based devices. Consider alternative patterns like a bottom sheet or a toggleable info icon for these contexts.

Touch devices

Tooltips are primarily a desktop pattern triggered by hover. They are difficult to use on mobile and other touch-based devices. Consider alternative patterns like a bottom sheet or a toggleable info icon for these contexts.

Long content

Keep tooltip text very brief and scannable. If the information is lengthy or complex, it belongs in a more persistent element like a modal or a dedicated section of the page.

Long content

Keep tooltip text very brief and scannable. If the information is lengthy or complex, it belongs in a more persistent element like a modal or a dedicated section of the page.

Long content

Keep tooltip text very brief and scannable. If the information is lengthy or complex, it belongs in a more persistent element like a modal or a dedicated section of the page.

Specifications

Position

Top

Asset A

Left

Asset A

Right

Asset A

Bottom

Asset A

Top

Asset A

Left

Asset A

Right

Asset A

Bottom

Asset A

Top

Asset A

Left

Asset A

Right

Asset A

Bottom

Asset A

Top

Asset A

Left

Asset A

Right

Asset A

Bottom

Asset A

Beak alignment

Start

Asset A

Middle

Asset A

End

Asset A

Start

Asset A

Middle

Asset A

End

Asset A

Start

Asset A

Middle

Asset A

End

Asset A

Content

Text

Asset A

Displays a simple, plain text string.

Custom

Asset A

Allows for embedding a custom component or a more complex layout within the tooltip.

Text

Asset A

Displays a simple, plain text string.

Custom

Asset A

Allows for embedding a custom component or a more complex layout within the tooltip.

Text

Asset A

Displays a simple, plain text string.

Custom

Asset A

Allows for embedding a custom component or a more complex layout within the tooltip.

Text

Asset A

Displays a simple, plain text string.

Custom

Asset A

Allows for embedding a custom component or a more complex layout within the tooltip.

Anatomy

Asset A

1

Content

A flexible slot designed for brief, supplementary text or custom content that provides non-essential clarification about an interface element.

2

Beak

A small caret that visually connects the tooltip to its trigger element and can be positioned on any side of the content area via the position prop.

Value

Tooltip

Tooltip

© 2025 Border LLC. All rights reserved.

A proud product of the Border UX team.

© 2025 Border LLC. All rights reserved.

A proud product of the Border UX team.

© 2025 Border LLC. All rights reserved.

A proud product of the Border UX team.

© 2025 Border LLC. All rights reserved.

A proud product of the Border UX team.

© 2025 Border LLC. All rights reserved.

A proud product of the Border UX team.