The terminal is the end of a stroke that does not finish with a serif. Straight, rounded, beveled or shaped like a teardrop, it completes the design of the letter and asserts its character.
Where to see it
The terminal is visible at the free end of letters such as “a”, “c”, “e”, “f”, “r”, “s” or “t”. It can be seen, for example, at the top of the “c” or at the end of the arm of the “r”, where the stroke stops without joining another stroke.
Why this detail matters
The shape of terminals directly shapes the style and readability of a typeface:
- A terminal cut horizontally or vertically gives a clean, rational look, common in contemporary sans serifs;
- A teardrop or rounded terminal brings softness and a classic touch, typical of many serif typefaces;
- The angle of the cut also affects the openness of letters: open terminals on the “c”, “e” or “s” make reading easier at small sizes.
Related term
The ball terminal is a rounded, teardrop-shaped terminal, found for example at the end of the “a”, “c” or “r” in many classic typefaces.
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