Serif
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Sans-serif font |
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Serif font |
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Serif font (serifs in red) |
A serif is a term in typography. If a letter is made of a line or lines, a serif is a tiny decorative line on the ends of letter's 'limbs'. Thus, in the illustration on the right, each serif letter has a serif on the end of its lines. Alphabetic typefaces either have serifs or not. Those without are called sans-serif.
The design of our typefaces started in the 15th century, when the early printers used moulds from which letters made of lead were produced.[1]
However, the original source of the serif may be in monumental inscriptions. Serifs are on the letters at the base of Trajan's column (built 107~113 AD), and are clearly illustrated in standard textbooks on typography.[1] Indeed, older literature often describes typefaces with serifs as Roman. The word serif seems to be an early 19th century innovation.[2]