# Labels (/docs/editor/labels)

Show a value as words that depend on the value and the language, such as a marker type or "named" versus "unnamed".



A [placeholder](/docs/editor/messages#placeholders) shows a value as it is: `{marker.type}` shows `Comment`, in every language, and `{marker.named}` shows `true`. A **label** shows words instead, chosen by the value: *Comment marker "Intro"*, or *Unnamed marker*.

Labels are optional. Most rules don't need any.

## The Labels section [#the-labels-section]

The built-in *Markers outside the work area* rule has two labels:

![The Labels section with two labels. {labels.markerType}, field marker.type, wording Comment → Comment, Chapter → Chapter, WebLink → Web Link, FLVCuePoint → Flash Cue Point, Segmentation → Segmentation. {labels.marker}, field marker.named, wording true → Marker {marker.name} ({labels.markerType}), false → Unnamed marker ({labels.markerType})](/docs/editor/labels-section.webp)

Each label has:

* a **Name**: messages insert the label as `{labels.<name>}`, shown in the label's title;
* a **Field**: the value that picks the words;
* its **Wording**: one row per value, with the **Value** to match and the **Text** to show for it.

Its message is then:

> `{labels.marker} at {marker.startTimecode} is after the end of the sequence ({sequence.endTimecode}).`

which reads *Marker "Intro" (Comment) at 00:01:10:00 is after the end of the sequence (00:01:00:00).*, or *Unnamed marker (Chapter) at …*.

## Build a label [#build-a-label]

1. Click **Add label**, and give it a name.
2. Pick its **Field**.
3. For each value, click **Add value**, type the value in **Value** and the words in **Text**.

How values are matched:

* as text: the values of a yes/no field are `true` and `false`;
* a value with no row shows as it is;
* a text may contain placeholders, and other labels (`{labels.markerType}` above);
* a text may be empty, to leave out a part of the sentence for some values;
* the **…** button of a row inserts a placeholder, or turns the text into [plural forms](/docs/editor/messages#plural-forms).

## Labels and languages [#labels-and-languages]

The texts of a label are edited in the panel's language, like messages, and fall back to English in the others. Translating the label is how a rule words a value in each language. See [Translations](/docs/editor/translations).

## In a rule file [#in-a-rule-file]

Labels are the `labels` object of the rule file: `{ "field", "values" }` per name. See [Labels](/docs/guides/labels).