# What is Layout Analysis?

Understand the importance of layout analysis in document processing

Layout analysis is a crucial step in document processing that involves analyzing and understanding the spatial arrangement of content within a document. It helps identify and classify different regions of a document, such as `text`, `table`, `headers`, `footers`, and `pictures`.

Basically, it tells us where and what is in the document.

### [​](https://docs.chunkr.ai/docs/features/layout-analysis/what#why-is-layout-analysis-important)Why is Layout Analysis Important? <a href="#why-is-layout-analysis-important" id="why-is-layout-analysis-important"></a>

Layout analysis serves several key purposes:

* **Structure Recognition**: It helps identify the logical structure and reading order of a document
* **Data Extraction**: By identifying specific regions (like tables, headers, or paragraphs), we can use specialized extraction methods for each type, improving accuracy
* **Better Chunking**: Layout elements allows us to identify sections of the document and generate better chunks.
* **Citations**: It allows LLMs to cite the correct region of the document, which can then be highlighted for a better experience.

![Layout Analysis](https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/lumina-53fcea44/assets/layout_analysis_example.webp)

### [​](https://docs.chunkr.ai/docs/features/layout-analysis/what#segment-types)Segment Types <a href="#segment-types" id="segment-types"></a>

Fractur uses a two way vision-grid transformer to identify the layout of the document. We support the following segment types:

* **Caption**: Text describing figures, tables, or other visual elements
* **Footnote**: References or additional information at the bottom of pages
* **Formula**: Mathematical or scientific equations
* **List Item**: Individual items in bulleted or numbered lists
* **Page**: Entire page (`segmentation_strategy=Page`)
* **Page Footer**: Content that appears at the bottom of each page
* **Page Header**: Content that appears at the top of each page
* **Picture**: Images, diagrams, or other visual elements
* **Section Header**: Headers that divide the document into sections
* **Table**: Structured data arranged in rows and columns
* **Text**: Regular paragraph text
* **Title**: Main document title


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