Glossary A–ZLetter T
Ticker (scrolling text)
A ticker is a line of text that moves steadily across the screen, usually from right to left along the bottom edge.
It is named after the news lines familiar from television.
Tickers suit short, constantly changing notices alongside the main content: headlines, share prices, weather, departure times or internal announcements. Technically the ticker is usually a zone of its own in the layout that takes its text from a list or a news feed. The upper area can then show a video while news runs along the bottom.
Operators should use tickers sparingly. Moving text is harder to read than static text, and people walking past only see a fragment. Important information should therefore not appear in the ticker alone. The speed has to suit the viewing distance, and weaker players sometimes render the movement jerkily; this should be checked on the device. A ticker is unsuitable for notices that must be displayed by law, because the text is never visible in full at once.