# Description Text

> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://plugins.jetbrains.com/docs/intellij/llms.txt).

Description text provides explanatory information about a set of settings or a single item in a list or tree.

![01 description text example](images/01_description_text_example.png)

## When to Use

Use description text to:

* Show details about items in a list or tree:

![02 use in tree](images/02_use_in_tree.png)

* Describe a group of settings:

![03 use in settings](images/03_use_in_settings.png)

## How to Use

### Text

Follow general rules in [Writing short and clear](writing-short.html) and [Punctuation](punctuation.html).

Use the default text style for plain text. Increase line height by 3px from the default value.

Use [H4 bold](typography.html) (Default bold) for headings or to highlight important words:

![04 bold header](images/04_bold_header.png)

Use the editor font to highlight code snippets:

![05 editor font](images/05_editor_font.png)

Use bullets for lists:

![06 bullets](images/06_bullets.png)

Limit the width of the line to 70–80 symbols, as it is not convenient to read very long lines:

Incorrect

![07 width incorrect](images/07_width_incorrect.png)

Correct

![07 width correct](images/07_width_correct.png)

If the text does not fit, add a scrollbar:

![08 scroll](images/08_scroll.png)

### Appearance

Do not add borders around the description text. Use the panel color for the background.

| Incorrect | Correct |
| --- | --- |
| ![09 frame incorrect](images/09_frame_incorrect.png) | ![09 frame correct](images/09_frame_correct.png) |

For [links](link.html), use the default link color: `Link.activeForeground`. Underline links on hover:

![10 link](images/10_link.png)

### Insets

Separate the text from the surroundings with insets.

Use a 12px horizontal inset if the description text’s area has other elements:

![11 insets 12](images/11_insets_12.png)

Increase inset up to 20px if the description text is the only element:

![11 insets 20](images/11_insets_20.png)