Section 6 · Typography

Tracking (Letter Spacing)

Definition

The uniform adjustment of space across a range of letters, loosening or tightening a whole word, line, or block at once.

Why it matters

Tracking sets the overall texture and color of a block of text; a touch of extra tracking can make small-caps and all-caps readable, while too much shreds a word into disconnected letters.

Example

Not to be confused with

Kerning — tracking is applied evenly across many characters; kerning targets the space between a single specific pair. See Kerning.