The type case is the large wooden drawer, divided into small compartments, in which the typesetter stored metal type. By extension, the French word "casse" now refers to the distinction between capital and small letters.
Where to see it
Type cases can be seen in printing museums and in traditional letterpress workshops, where drawer cabinets are still in use. The idea survives in computing in the expression "case sensitive", which indicates that a password or a search distinguishes capitals from small letters.
Why this detail matters
The type case has left a lasting mark on typographic vocabulary:
- It is the origin of the terms "lowercase" and "uppercase", which still refer to small letters and capitals;
- The layout of its compartments, larger for frequent letters, reflects how often each letter is used in a language;
- Choosing the case, capitals or small letters, remains a key decision when setting a headline, a logotype or an interface.
Related term
Lead type refers to the movable type printing technique for which the type case was designed.