Indentaatio

Indentaatio is the practice of introducing horizontal space at the beginning of a line to signal the start of a new paragraph or to indicate structure within a text. The concept is used across typography, publishing, and digital editing to help readers perceive hierarchy and rhythm in written material. While its exact purpose can vary by context, indentaatio generally serves to separate blocks of text and improve readability.

In traditional typography, indentaatio is most visible as the first-line indent. A typical convention is to indent the first line of each paragraph by about 0.5 inches (1.27 cm) in printed books. Other forms include hanging indent, where all lines except the first are indented, used for bibliographies and references, and negative or outdented formats, where the first line is flush left and subsequent lines are indented for emphasis or design.

In digital typography and word processing, indentaatio is implemented with settings such as text-indent in CSS or paragraph indentation in word processors. Standards vary by style guides; for example, academic and professional styles often specify a consistent first-line indent or a hanging indent for lists and references.

In computing, indentation also serves a structural role in source code. Although the visual effect is similar, indentation in programming languages like Python can convey program structure and scope, whereas in languages with braces or keywords, indentation is primarily a matter of readability rather than syntax.

Historical trends show a broad shift between heavily indented manuscripts and more minimal spacing in some modern layouts. Today, many digital-first formats favor clear paragraph spacing over or in addition to indentation, depending on readability and stylistic guidelines. See also: paragraph formatting, typography, code indentation.