garisbaris

Garisbaris is a term used in Indonesian typography to denote the vertical spacing between the baselines of successive lines of text. The word is a compound of garis (line) and baris (row or line), and it commonly appears in Indonesian style guides, publishing workflows, and word processing discussions. In practice, garisbaris refers to what English speakers call line height or leading.

Definition and scope

Garisbaris describes the distance from the baseline of one line to the baseline of the next. It affects the overall density of a block of text and interacts with font size, letterforms, and page layout. It can be expressed as an absolute measurement (points, millimeters) or as a multiple of the font size (for example, a garisbaris of 1.2 means the line height is 1.2 times the font size).

Usage and variants

In software, garisbaris is controlled through the line height or leading settings. Common variants include tight, normal, and loose line spacing. Some Indonesian texts distinguish garisbaris tunggal (single spacing) and garisbaris ganda (double spacing), while others use broader terms such as spasi baris or jarak antar baris. The choice depends on readability, medium (print vs. screen), and typographic style.

Relation to readability and accessibility

Appropriate garisbaris enhances legibility, reduces eye strain, and supports reading speed. Too small spacing can cause crowding and hinder character recognition, while overly large spacing may disrupt the flow of text. Accessibility guidelines in many languages recommend line heights around 1.2 to 1.5 times the font size for body text, adjusted for font and context.

Relation to other terms

Garisbaris is closely related to leading (the English term for vertical spacing in typography) and to line-height in CSS. It intersects with other layout decisions such as margin, paragraph spacing, and font metrics. In Indonesian contexts, garisbaris is a practical label for a standard typographic parameter with cross-language equivalents.