bündig

Bündig is a German adjective used primarily in typography and layout to describe the alignment of text or other elements along a margin or edge. In common usage it refers to being flush with a reference edge and is often specified as linksbündig, rechtsbündig, or beidseitig bündig.

Linksbündig means that each line begins at the left margin, producing a ragged right edge. Rechtsbündig aligns the text to the right margin, leaving a ragged left edge. Beidseitig bündig, also known as blocksatz in German, aligns both left and right margins, creating straight edges on both sides. In typesetting, beidseitig bündig typically requires hyphenation and careful spacing to maintain readability.

In digital typography and word processing, alignment is controlled by software options. Beidseitig bündig (justified text) adjusts inter-word and inter-character spacing to achieve uniform margins, while other forms preserve a ragged edge on the opposite side. Readability considerations include font size, line length, hyphenation, and the avoidance of typographic rivers.

Other uses of the term can extend beyond body text to the alignment of images, blocks, or other elements within a layout, ensuring that edges align with a grid, margin, or guide.

See also: linksbündig, rechtsbündig, beidseitig bündig, blocksatz, flattersatz.