A method for identifying components in figures extracts component numbers in a description section of a patent document that are coupled with a component name, and creates a component information list based on the component numbers. The method distinguishes each component number and respective positions of all the component numbers in a figure section of the patent document. The method detects a position of a cursor displayed on a display device when the figure section is being viewed. The method searches for a component name of a component number from the component information list when the cursor is positioned within a preset region around the component number, and displays the component name beside the component number in the figure section of the patent document on the display device.