The counter is the white space, closed or open, inside a letter or bounded by its strokes. Just as important as the stroke itself, it shapes the readability and lightness of a typeface.
Where to see it
The counter is closed in letters such as “o”, “b”, “d”, “p” or the eye of the “e”, as well as in the capitals “A”, “B” or “O”. It is open in letters such as “c”, “n”, “u” or “h”, where the white space is not fully enclosed by the stroke.
Why this detail matters
The size and shape of counters directly shape the readability and texture of a typeface:
- Generous counters make reading easier at small sizes and on screen, keeping letters from filling in;
- Narrow counters create a denser, darker text, better suited to headlines than to long texts;
- Type designers draw the whites as much as the blacks: the balance between counters and sidebearings produces an even typographic color.
Related term
The bowl is the curved stroke that encloses the counter of letters such as “b”, “d” or “o”.
Anatomy glossary
Ascender, Descender, Sidebearing, Joint, Axis, Bar, Beak, Bowl, Loop, Set width, Counter, Serif, Stem, Leg, Minim, Baseline, Eye, Belly, Foot, Point, Tail, Cross stroke, Terminal; X-height, X-height, Cap height, Body; Mean line, Ear, Spur, Ball terminal, Ligature, Apex, Vertex, Arm, Shoulder, Spine, Em dash, Thick stroke, Hairline, Bracket, Bounding box