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Annotation[expr,data]

represents an expression expr, with annotation data.

Annotation[expr,data,"type"]

specifies the type of annotation being given.

Annotation[items,keyvalue]

associates keyvalue pairs with items in objects such as Graph, MeshRegion etc.

Details
Details and Options Details and Options
Examples  
Basic Examples  
Scope  
Basic Uses  
Specifications  
Applications  
Graphs  
Export  
Rasterize  
Properties & Relations  
See Also
Tech Notes
Related Guides
History
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Annotation

Annotation[expr,data]

represents an expression expr, with annotation data.

Annotation[expr,data,"type"]

specifies the type of annotation being given.

Annotation[items,keyvalue]

associates keyvalue pairs with items in objects such as Graph, MeshRegion etc.

Details

  • Annotation[expr,…] displays in a notebook as expr.
  • Annotation acts as an inert wrapper for storing annotations in expressions.
  • Annotation can be used with graphics or any other expression.
  • With particular "type" specifications, annotations are picked up by various built-in functions:
  • "Hyperlink"hyperlink for exported image maps etc.
    "Mouse"annotation for MouseAnnotation
    "Region"regions for Rasterize, Export, etc.
    "Tooltip"tooltip specification for Export etc.
  • With keyvalue specifications, annotations are associated to items in various objects:
  • Audiotime points and time intervals
    BoundaryMeshRegionmesh cells
    CSGRegiongeometric regions
    Graphvertices and edges
    MeshRegionmesh cells

Examples

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Basic Examples  (3)

Dynamically get the annotation when the mouse enters the disk:

Wolfram Language code: {Annotation[Graphics[Disk[]], "An annotation", "Mouse"], Dynamic[MouseAnnotation[]]}

Annotate an edge in a graph:

Wolfram Language code: Graph[{Annotation[12, EdgeLabels -> "hello"], 23, 31}]

Retrieve the annotation:

Wolfram Language code: AnnotationValue[%, EdgeLabels]

Annotate curves in a plot and display a label when the mouse pointer is over a curve:

Wolfram Language code: Plot[{Annotation[Sin[x], "Sine", "Mouse"], Annotation[Cos[x], "Cosine", "Mouse"]}, {x, 0, 2π}, PlotLabel -> Dynamic[MouseAnnotation[""]]]

Scope  (8)

Basic Uses  (5)

Store annotations in an expression:

Wolfram Language code: a = Table[Annotation[i, PrimeQ[i]], {i, 20}]

Retrieve expressions with specific annotations:

Wolfram Language code: Cases[a, Annotation[_, True]]

Annotate an edge in a graph:

Wolfram Language code: Graph[{Annotation[12, EdgeLabels -> "hello"], 23, 31}]

Annotate curves in a plot:

Wolfram Language code: Plot[{Annotation[Sin[x], "Sine", "Mouse"], Annotation[Cos[x], "Cosine", "Mouse"]}, {x, 0, 2π}, PlotStyle -> Thick]
Wolfram Language code: Dynamic[MouseAnnotation[]]

Add a hyperlink to any part of the expression when converting to an HTML file:

Wolfram Language code: g = Graphics[{Annotation[Disk[], "http://www.wolfram.com", "Hyperlink"], Disk[{2, 2}]}];
Wolfram Language code: Export["test.html", g]

Use Rasterize to find the position of the annotated object within the image:

Wolfram Language code: g = Graphics[{Annotation[Disk[{0, 0}], "Disk1", "Region"], Disk[{2, 2}]}, ImageSize -> 50];
Wolfram Language code: Rasterize[g, "Regions"]

Specifications  (3)

Annotate an expression:

Wolfram Language code: Annotation[1, "one"]

Specify the type of annotation:

Wolfram Language code: Annotation[Graphics[Disk[]], "An annotation", "Mouse"]
Wolfram Language code: Dynamic[MouseAnnotation[]]

Associate key and value pairs to objects:

Wolfram Language code: Graph[{Annotation[12, EdgeLabels -> "hello"], 23, 31}]

Applications  (6)

Graphs  (2)

Build a graph with VertexSize and VertexStyle annotations on vertices:

Wolfram Language code: Graph[Table[Annotation[v, {VertexSize -> 0.2 + 0.2Mod[v, 5], VertexStyle -> Hue[(v/15), 1, 1]}], {v, 0, 14}], Table[vMod[v + 1, 15], {v, 0, 14}]]

Use Annotation to specify the weight for individual edges:

Wolfram Language code: Graph[{12, Annotation[23, EdgeWeight -> 2], 31}, EdgeLabels -> "EdgeWeight"]

The list of edge weights in the order given in the graph:

Wolfram Language code: AnnotationValue[%, EdgeWeight]

Export  (2)

Add a hyperlink to any part of the expression when converting to an HTML file:

Wolfram Language code: g = Graphics[{Annotation[Disk[], "http://www.wolfram.com", "Hyperlink"], Disk[{2, 2}]}];
Wolfram Language code: Export["test.html", g]

Add a tooltip to any part of the expression when converting to an HTML file:

Wolfram Language code: g = Graphics[{Annotation[Disk[], "A Disk", "Tooltip"], Disk[{2, 2}]}];
Wolfram Language code: Export["test.html", g]

Rasterize  (2)

Wolfram Language code: g = Graphics[{Annotation[Disk[{0, 0}], "Disk1", "Region"], Disk[{2, 2}]}, ImageSize -> 50];

Rasterize returns a graphical depiction of the object and is used within Export:

Wolfram Language code: Rasterize[g]

Use Rasterize to find the position of the annotated object within the image:

Wolfram Language code: Rasterize[g, "Regions"]
Wolfram Language code: ras = Column[{Annotation["Disk1:", "Label", "Region"], Graphics[Disk[], ImageSize -> 100], Annotation["Text", "Explanation", "Region"]}, Alignment -> Center];

Rasterize will take any expression as input:

Wolfram Language code: Rasterize[ras]

Automatically find the location of multiple expressions:

Wolfram Language code: Rasterize[ras, "Regions"]

Properties & Relations  (1)

Tooltip and Hyperlink annotations can be replaced by their respective functions:

Wolfram Language code: g1 = Graphics[{Annotation[Disk[], "http://www.wolfram.com", "Hyperlink"], Annotation[Disk[{2, 2}], "A Disk", "Tooltip"]}];
Wolfram Language code: Export[FileNameJoin[{$TemporaryDirectory, "test1.html"}], g1]

An equivalent expression:

Wolfram Language code: g2 = Graphics[{Hyperlink[Disk[], "http://www.wolfram.com"], Tooltip[Disk[{2, 2}], "A Disk"]}];
Wolfram Language code: Export[FileNameJoin[{$TemporaryDirectory, "test2.html"}], g2]
Wolfram Research (2007), Annotation, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Annotation.html (updated 2025).

Text

Wolfram Research (2007), Annotation, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Annotation.html (updated 2025).

CMS

Wolfram Language. 2007. "Annotation." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. Last Modified 2025. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Annotation.html.

APA

Wolfram Language. (2007). Annotation. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Annotation.html

BibTeX

@misc{reference.wolfram_2026_annotation, author="Wolfram Research", title="{Annotation}", year="2025", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Annotation.html}", note=[Accessed: 12-June-2026]}

BibLaTeX

@online{reference.wolfram_2026_annotation, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={Annotation}, year={2025}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Annotation.html}, note=[Accessed: 12-June-2026]}