Tikhoogte

Tikhoogte is a Dutch term that can be understood as the height or prominence of tick marks on a scale, dial, ruler, or similar measuring instrument. It refers to how long or tall a tick mark appears relative to other marks, which affects legibility and the quick recognition of important divisions. The concept is commonly discussed in the context of axis design, gauges, and graphic displays.

In practice, tick heights are used to distinguish major divisions from minor ones. For example, on a ruler the longer ticks mark whole centimeters, while shorter ticks indicate millimeters. On graphs or dials, higher ticks often accompany labels or numbers to guide the eye to specific values. Designers may adjust tick height to improve readability, reduce visual clutter, or emphasize particular units or ranges. Some systems also use variable tick heights along an axis to highlight regions of interest.

Terminology around tick height is not always standardized. In various fields, the same idea may be described as tick length, tick mark prominence, line weight, or mark depth rather than as a fixed term. Nevertheless, the underlying principle remains the same: the relative height of tick marks aids interpretation and precision in measurement or data presentation.

See also: tick mark, axis, ruler, major tick, minor tick, gauge, dial.