legibles

Legibles is not a standard technical term in typography, but it is sometimes used informally to refer to items that can be read easily, such as signs, labels, inscriptions, or displays. More commonly, the concepts are discussed in terms of legibility and readability. Legibility describes how easily individual characters and words can be recognized, while readability concerns how easily longer passages of text can be processed and understood.

Legibility depends on features of the typeface and its presentation. Distinct, simple letter shapes with adequate variety in letter forms help distinguish characters such as o, a, and e. Factors such as type size, stroke width, and letter spacing (tracking and kerning) also affect legibility. Contrast between text and background, lighting, viewing distance, and the medium (print or screen) influence how readily letters can be recognized. The design of signs and UI elements often prioritizes legibility to ensure quick recognition in real-world contexts.

Applications and guidelines. In signage, signage design, and user interfaces, legible design favors clear, open letterforms, generous spacing, and high contrast. For accessibility, designers follow principles that improve legibility for diverse audiences, including considering color contrast, readable type sizes, and simplicity in letterforms. It is common to prefer sans-serif or humanist typefaces for on-screen and distant viewing, with careful attention to spacing and rendering at the target size and distance.

Evaluation. Legibility is typically assessed through practical user testing and objective measurements like minimum legible type size and contrast ratio. Such evaluations help ensure that inscriptions, labels, and typographic displays can be read quickly and accurately across varying conditions and user needs.