Kerning vs. Tracking — What's the Difference?

In typography, kerning is the process of adjusting the spacing between characters in a proportional font, usually to achieve a visually pleasing result. Kerning adjusts the space between individual letterforms, while tracking (letter-spacing) adjusts spacing uniformly over a range of characters.

The placing of students in any of several courses of study according to ability, achievement, or needs. Also called ability grouping.

The portion of a typeface that projects beyond the body or shank of a character.

The position of a magnetic tape as it moves across magnetic heads, as in a VCR.

To provide (type) with a kern.

The lateral pressure of a phonograph needle as it tracks in a groove.

To adjust space between (characters) in typeset text.

The act or process by which something is tracked.

(typography) The adjustment of the horizontal space between selected pairs of glyphs in a typeface.

(typography) A consistent adjustment of space between individual letters; letterspacing.

Present participle of kern

(education) The division of pupils into separately taught groups by perceived ability level.

Present participle of track

The pursuit (of a person or animal) by following tracks or marks they left behind