What is Above the Fold?

The term comes from newspapers, where the top half of the front page was visible on the newsstand. On a website, above the fold is whatever shows on screen the moment a page loads, before anyone scrolls. Because screens vary, the exact line differs between a phone, a laptop and a large monitor.

This area matters because visitors decide quickly whether a site is relevant. If they cannot tell what you do, who it is for and what to do next, many will leave without scrolling. A clear headline, a short supporting line and one obvious button give them a reason to stay.

It does not mean cramming everything into the top of the page. Good pages lead with the most important message, then use the rest of the page to answer questions and build trust. We design the first screen first, then check it on real phones and laptops.