Xkorkeuden

Xkorkeuden, the Finnish term for the typographic concept known in English as x-height, refers to the height of the body of lowercase letters in a typeface. It is determined by the distance from the baseline to the top of the lowercase letters that do not have ascenders, most notably the height of the letter x. The x-height excludes parts of letters that extend above the mean line (ascenders) or below the baseline (descenders).

Measurement and significance: In typesetting and font design, x-korkeus is a key factor in readability and perceived size. A larger x-height generally makes lowercase text more legible at small sizes because the main letter bodies are taller, while a small x-height can make text appear lighter or thinner. In digital fonts, the x-height is often described as a proportion of the em square; fonts can have high, standard, or low x-height independent of overall weight.

Relationships and design implications: The x-height interacts with cap height, stroke width, and overall letter width to determine the visual harmony of a typeface. The ratio between x-height and cap height influences how text looks when set in body copy versus display settings. Designers may adjust x-height to achieve desired readability, tonal balance, or aesthetic character for specific contexts—print, UI, or screen typography.

Variations: Across script families and font styles, x-height varies widely. Sans-serif faces often exhibit larger x-heights than old-style serifs to improve legibility on screens, while some display faces use smaller x-heights for a more compact appearance.