Tracking, or overall letter spacing, is the uniform adjustment of the space between all the letters of a word, a line or a paragraph. It differs from kerning, which only corrects the space between two specific letters.
Where to see it
Tracking is noticeable in text set in capitals or small caps, which are often spaced out slightly to improve legibility, and in large headlines, which are tightened for more density. It is set in thousandths of an em in layout software, and with the CSS letter-spacing property on the web.
Why this detail matters
Well-judged tracking improves legibility and refines the look of a text:
- Capitals, designed to be read alongside lowercase letters, gain clarity and elegance with slightly open tracking;
- Large headlines often look too loosely spaced and gain density and impact with tight tracking;
- In body text, tracking should be handled with care: too tight or too loose, it breaks the rhythm of words and tires the reader.
Related term
Kerning adjusts the space between two specific letters, whereas tracking applies to every letter in a selection.