Visual Design
Leading
Leading is the vertical space between lines of text, measured from one baseline to the next. It controls how open or compact a paragraph feels.
Why it matters
Comfortable leading is one of the simplest ways to make a block of text readable. Too little and the lines crowd together; too much and they stop reading as a single paragraph.
In depth
The word comes from the strips of lead that printers once placed between lines of metal type. In digital tools it usually appears as line-height. A common starting point is leading around 1.4 to 1.6 times the font size for body text, though longer line lengths often want a little more.
Real-world example
A long article set with generous line spacing feels calm and easy to follow, while the same text set too tightly feels like a wall.
Typography is the craft of arranging type so it is a pleasure to read.
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