The eye is the enclosed counter in the upper part of the lowercase “e”, above its bar. In French typographic tradition, the word “œil” also refers by extension to the apparent size of a typeface, which English expresses through the x-height: a font is said to have a large or small x-height.
Where to see it
The eye is visible on the lowercase “e”, in the small enclosed space formed by the upper curve of the letter and its bar. Its size and shape vary greatly from one typeface to another, from the small, tight eye of old-style typefaces to the open, generous eye of fonts designed for screens.
Why this detail matters
The design of the eye directly shapes the readability and character of a typeface:
- An eye that is too small easily fills in at small sizes or in print, making the “e” hard to tell apart from the “c” or “o”;
- A large, open eye improves readability on screen and in long texts;
- The height of the bar, which sets the size of the eye, contributes to the style: placed high, it creates a compact, elegant eye; placed lower, a more generous, modern one.
Related term
The x-height is the height of lowercase letters without ascenders or descenders, and it determines the apparent size of a font.
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