Monospace

Monospace, also called fixed-width, refers to a family of typefaces in which every character occupies the same horizontal space. In proportional or variable-width fonts, glyphs have different widths, which affects how text is laid out. In monospace fonts, each character fits into an equal-width cell, so columns align cleanly and vertical scanning is straightforward.

The term originates with early typewriters and computer terminals, where fixed character cells were essential for legibility and alignment. Courier, introduced for IBM's typewriters in the 1950s, became a widely used prototype. Monospace fonts have remained standard for code editors, terminals, and other environments that rely on predictable character spacing.

Common uses include programming, command shells, data tables, and ASCII art, where consistent character width makes it easier to read and compare lines. Characteristics often include little or no kerning and a utilitarian appearance. Monospace fonts can be serif or sans serif; examples include Courier New (serif) and Consolas (sans serif).

In digital typography, monospace is often selected with the font-family: monospace in CSS. Popular families include Consolas, Monaco, Menlo, Liberation Mono, and Ubuntu Mono, among others. While less space-efficient for long passages, monospace remains favored for code, configuration files, and terminal content due to its stable alignment and legibility in monospaced contexts.