The serif is the small stroke that finishes the ends of a letter’s main strokes. Its presence or absence separates the two major families of typefaces: serif typefaces and sans serifs.
Where to see it
Serifs are visible at the foot and top of letters such as “i”, “l”, “n”, “H” or “T”, in typefaces such as Garamond, Times or Didot. They are absent from sans serifs such as Helvetica, whose strokes end cleanly.
Why this detail matters
The presence and design of serifs directly shape the reading experience and character of a typeface:
- Serifs emphasize the baseline and guide the eye along the line, contributing to reading comfort in long printed texts;
- Their shape helps distinguish the major families: triangular serifs in Garaldes, hairline serifs in Didones, thick rectangular serifs in slab serifs such as Rockwell;
- A serif typeface often evokes tradition, seriousness or elegance, whereas a sans serif suggests modernity and neutrality.
Related term
The beak is a particular kind of serif that finishes certain horizontal or curved strokes, as on the “C”, “E” or “T”.
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