Composite UV spectra of 238 VUDS star-forming galaxies. Top: median (black) and average (red) composite spectra shifted to rest-frame of 238 foreground galaxies with projected angular separations < 23″ (b < 187.2 kpc at z = 2.6). Bottom: fraction of contributing individual spectra to the composite spectra per unit wavelength. Several spectral lines of interest are indicated: H I (Lyα) emission–absorption (blue), low-ionization state metal absorption lines (cyan), intermediate-ionization state metal absorption lines (peach), high-ionization state metal absorption lines (magenta), interstellar fine-structure emission line (green), absorption stellar photospheric lines (gold), emission nebular lines (lime), and emission–absorption lines associated with stellar winds (indigo).