Sidebars are additional pieces of information that appear alongside the main content in a document, article, or webpage. They provide context, explanations, or related details that enhance the reader's understanding without interrupting the flow of the primary text. Commonly found in magazines and online articles, sidebars can include statistics, quotes, or brief summaries. Typically formatted as a box or a shaded area, sidebars draw attention and make it easy for readers to find supplementary information. They are often used in educational materials, such as textbooks, to highlight key concepts or provide examples related to the main topic, like historical events or scientific theories.