Linewidths

Linewidth is the thickness or width of a line used in drawings, diagrams, and signals. In digital graphics and vector graphics, linewidth is a property of a stroke or path that determines how thick a line appears when rendered. It is commonly measured in points, pixels, or millimeters, and is translated into screen pixels by the display resolution and rendering engine.

In design and typography, line width influences visual weight, legibility, and emphasis. Designers adjust linewidth to create contrast between elements, to convey hierarchy, and to ensure legibility across media. Standards for acceptable linewidths vary by medium, with print relying on physical units and screens relying on device pixels or scalable units.

In cartography and engineering drawings, different line widths distinguish feature types, such as roads, rivers, and boundaries. Consistency and scalability are important, and many systems support strokes that scale with zoom or change with layer settings.

In spectroscopy and related fields, linewidth refers to the width of a spectral line. It reflects broadening mechanisms, including natural, Doppler, and pressure broadening, as well as instrumental effects. Linewidth is often described by full width at half maximum (FWHM) and may be modeled with Gaussian or Lorentzian shapes.

In semiconductor lithography and nanofabrication, linewidth denotes the minimum feature width achievable on a substrate. Precise linewidth control is essential for device performance and yield, and is affected by process variations, resist properties, and exposure conditions. Measurement of linewidth is a key metric in process control and metrology.

Across contexts, linewidth units and measurement methods are domain-specific, but the underlying concept remains the same: it is the measured thickness or width of a line.