The Anatomy of Type

The anatomy of type refers to the structural parts that make up a letter in a font. Key elements include the *baseline*, where most letters sit; the *ascenders*, the parts of letters that rise above the line (like in "b" or "d"); the *descenders*, the parts that go below the line (like in "p" or "g"); the *x-height*, which is the height of lowercase letters excluding ascenders and descenders; and the *stroke*, the main line that forms the shape of the letter. Understanding these parts helps in choosing and designing readable and aesthetically pleasing text.