# Layout (computing)

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In [computing](/source/Computing), **layout** is the process of calculating the position of objects in space subject to various constraints. This functionality can be part of an [application](/source/Application_software) or packaged as a reusable [component](/source/Component-based_software_engineering) or [library](/source/Library_(computing)).

## Examples

- [Page layout](/source/Page_layout) is the computation of the position of the paragraphs, tabs, sentences, words and letters of a text. This is done by [desktop publishing](/source/Desktop_publishing) software, [typesetting](/source/Typesetting) software, and [web browsers](/source/Web_browser). These programs typically have dedicated layout [routines](/source/Subroutine) to calculate the correct position of glyphs and embedded images.[1]

- Some [widget toolkits](/source/Widget_toolkit) include a [layout manager](/source/Layout_manager). This component automatically calculates a widget's position based on alignment constraints without the need for the programmer to specify absolute coordinates.

- [Graph drawing](/source/Graph_drawing) software automatically determine the position of the vertexes and edges of a graph with various goals like minimization of the number of edge intersections, minimization of total area or production of an aesthetically pleasing result.[2]

- [Electronic design automation](/source/Electronic_design_automation) tools for the [place and route](/source/Place_and_route) step.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["What is Layout? - Definition from Amazing Algorithms"](https://amazingalgorithms.com/definitions/layout/). *amazingalgorithms.com*. Retrieved 2025-11-08.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["What is layout?"](https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/glossary/layout/?msockid=0bf844a520026c8b1810523b21276d50). Lenovo.

## See also

- [CSS box model](/source/CSS_box_model)

- [Document layout analysis](/source/Document_layout_analysis)

- [Layout engine (disambiguation)](/source/Layout_engine_(disambiguation))

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Layout (computing)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Layout_(computing)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Layout_(computing)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.