Serif

A serif is the small decorative stroke or “foot” that appears at the ends of a letter’s main vertical or horizontal lines in certain typefaces. Serif fonts are considered more traditional and are commonly used in print because the added strokes help guide the reader’s eye along lines of text. They’re often associated with elegance, authority, and timeless design—making them a go-to for institutions, editorial layouts, and formal branding.

related terms

Design concepts rarely exist in isolation. These related terms help connect the dots and round out your understanding.