The foot is the lower part of a vertical stroke that rests on the baseline. It is the letter’s point of support, often finished with a serif in serif typefaces.
Where to see it
The foot is visible at the bottom of the stems of letters such as “i”, “l”, “n”, “m” or the capitals “H”, “I” and “T”. In serif typefaces, it widens into a small horizontal base, whereas in sans serifs it ends in a clean cut.
Why this detail matters
The design of the foot directly shapes the stability and rhythm of a typeface:
- Feet marked by serifs emphasize the baseline and reinforce the horizontal flow of the text;
- Feet without serifs, cut clean, give a sleeker, more modern look, particularly well suited to interfaces;
- The shape of the foot, straight, rounded or beveled, contributes to the style of a font and must remain consistent across the whole alphabet.
Related term
The serif is the small stroke that finishes the ends of letters in serif typefaces, and it often widens the foot of the stems.
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