What is the term for a help message that appears when the cursor is over a data field?

The term for a help message that appears when the cursor is over a data field is commonly known as a tooltip. Tooltips provide context-sensitive help, offering additional information or guidance to users regarding the data field they are hovering over. This enhances user experience by making interfaces more intuitive and informative without cluttering the screen with additional text or prompts.

Hot spots refer to clickable areas within a user interface but do not specifically imply the presence of an informational tooltip. Data prompts typically refer to messages that require user input or action but are not necessarily associated with hovering behavior. Accessibility notices are designed to provide information about accessibility options or compliance, rather than serving as hover-based help messages.

By understanding that tooltips serve as dynamic, context-aware aids, users can better grasp their purpose and functionality in the realm of user interface design.