Typography Terms

B

Baseline
Typography
Baseline is the invisible line upon which most text characters sit, serving as a fundamental reference in typography and graphic design.

D

Descender
Typography
A descender is the portion of a lowercase letter that extends below the baseline, as seen in letters like g, j, p, and y.

E

Em Space
Typography
Em space is a typographic unit of measurement equal to the point size of the typeface, used for spacing and layout in graphic design.
En Space
Typography
En space is a typographic unit of measurement equal to the width of the letter "N," commonly used for spacing in typesetting and design.

F

Font Weight
Typography
Font weight is the thickness of characters in a typeface, influencing text prominence and readability in design and typography.

K

Kerning
Typography
Kerning is the adjustment of space between individual characters in typography to enhance readability and visual appeal.

L

Leading
Typography
Leading is the vertical space between lines of type, influencing readability and overall visual appeal in printed materials.

O

Orphans & Widows
Typography
Orphans and widows are typographic terms describing single lines of text left alone at the beginning or end of a paragraph, disrupting visual flow.

S

Sans-Serif Font
Typography
Sans-serif font is a typeface characterized by the absence of decorative strokes at the ends of letters, promoting clarity and modernity in design.
Serif Font
Typography
A serif font is a typeface characterized by small decorative lines or strokes at the ends of its letters, enhancing readability and elegance.

T

Tracking
Typography
Tracking is the adjustment of space between groups of characters in typography to enhance readability and visual appeal.
Type Family
Typography
A type family is a collection of related typefaces that share common design features, including variations in weight, style, and width.

X

X-Height
Typography
X-height is the distance between the baseline and the mean line of lowercase letters, influencing legibility and overall typeface appearance.