what is a byline in a newspaper

A byline in a newspaper or magazine article is a line of text that gives the name of the writer of the article. Bylines are typically placed between the headline and the text of the article, although some magazines place bylines at the bottom of the page to leave more room for graphical elements around the headline. Bylines were rare before the late 19th century, and the word "byline" itself first appeared in print in 1926. Bylines can also include a brief article summary that introduces the author by name. Bylines inform readers of who wrote an article, and on the web, the name of the author may be a hyperlink to another page with distinct information about the writer, such as the writer’s qualifications, degrees, general area of knowledge, past work history, or other writing.