Block of graphic or textual material that is identified as a figure, usually bearing a caption and a label such as “Figure 3.” or “Figure”.
A <fig> is defined as an element that would appear in the Table of Figures, if there were one.
Related Essay: For a discussion on the use of <fig>, see Figures and Graphics.
Usage: The content of a <fig> need not be graphical in nature; the content of a figure may be a graphic, a list, several paragraphs, an equation, a display quote, a table, etc., or a mixture of several of these.
Position: The @position attribute may be used to indicate whether this element must be anchored at its exact location within the text or whether it may float, for example, to the top of the next page, into the next column, to the end of a logical file, or within a separate window.
Best Practice: Tag unlabeled graphical objects as <graphic>s rather than <fig>s. A common test to determine if an object is a <fig> versus a <graphic> is to ask, “If there were a ‘List of Figures’ for this document, should this object appear in that list?”
<!ELEMENT fig %fig-model; >
((object-id)*, label?, (caption)?, (alt-text | long-desc | email | ext-link | uri)*, (disp-formula | disp-formula-group | chem-struct-wrap | disp-quote | speech | statement | verse-group | table-wrap | p | def-list | list | alternatives | array | graphic | media | preformat)*, (attrib | permissions)*)
The following, in order:
<app>, <app-group>, <bio>, <body>, <boxed-text>, <disp-quote>, <fig-group>, <floats-group>, <glossary>, <license-p>, <named-content>, <notes>, <p>, <ref-list>, <sec>, <styled-content>
...
<sec sec-type="results">
<title>Results</title>
<p>We identified 703 abstracts, of which 687 were not
relevant ... Details of randomisation procedures,
treatment schedules, and numbers of patients followed up
are given on the <italic>BMJ</italic> website.</p>
<fig id="F1">
<caption>
<title>Deaths among patients receiving day hospital care
or alternative services.</title><p>Odds ratios of death by end
of follow up were calculated by fixed effects model.
Heterogeneity between trials is presented as
χ<sup>2</sup></p>
</caption>
<alt-text>Deaths in hospitals or with alternative services</alt-text>
<graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"
xlink:href="fors2662.f1">
<object-id>456472</object-id>
</graphic>
</fig>
...
</sec>
...
JATS-display0.ent