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 graphic 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 graphic 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)?, (abstract)*, (kwd-group)*, (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 | code | 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>
A simple captionless figure with a simple graphic:
...
<fig id="f1" orientation="portrait" position="float">
<graphic xlink:href="f1"/>
<attrib>Brookhaven National Laboratory</attrib>
</fig>
...
A labeled, captioned figure with a graphic:
...
<fig id="f8" orientation="portrait" position="float">
<label>FIG. 8.</label>
<caption>
<p>Time difference between events F and A as a function of the
length of entering plug for bifurcations B to BXXX, where X stands
for 0 or 1.</p>
</caption>
<graphic orientation="portrait" position="float" xlink:href="f8"/>
</fig>
...
A more complex figure with a graphic:
...
<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>
...
A complex multi-graphic figure:
...
<fig id="f1" orientation="portrait" position="float">
<label>FIG. 1.</label>
<caption>
<p>(a) Schematic of the working principles of HFM, (b) a typical application
scheme for an electric bias in HFM, (c) regulation the conformations and
dynamics (trapping, concentration, and sudden stretching) of λ-DNA molecules
in HFM, and (d) schematic of the trapping location regulation (enhanced online).
[URL: <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4762852.1">
http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4762852.1</ext-link>]
<alternatives>
<media id="v1" mime-subtype="avi" mimetype="video" orientation="portrait"
position="anchor" specific-use="original-format" xlink:href="v1">
<object-id pub-id-type="doi" specific-use="metadata">10.1063/1.4762852.1</object-id>
</media>
<media mime-subtype="mpeg" mimetype="video" orientation="portrait"
position="anchor" specific-use="archival-format" xlink:href="v1"></media>
<media mime-subtype="x-flv" mimetype="video" orientation="portrait"
position="anchor" specific-use="online-format" xlink:href="v1"></media>
</alternatives>
</p>
</caption>
<graphic orientation="portrait" position="float" xlink:href="f1"/>
<graphic id="f1a" orientation="portrait" position="float" xlink:href="dummy1.png"/>
<graphic id="f1b" orientation="portrait" position="float" xlink:href="dummy2.png"/>
<graphic id="f1c" orientation="portrait" position="float" xlink:href="dummy3.png"/>
<graphic id="f1d" orientation="portrait" position="float" xlink:href="dummy4.png"/>
</fig>
...
A figure with alternate graphics:
...
<fig id="f3" position="float">
<label>FIG. 3.</label>
<caption>...</caption>
<alternatives>
<graphic specific-use="print" xlink:href="1.4821168.figures.highres.f3.zip"></graphic>
<graphic specific-use="online" xlink:href="1.4821168.figures.online.f3.jpg"></graphic>
</alternatives>
</fig>
...
JATS-display1.ent