What is the term for the space between characters in typography?

The term for the space between characters in typography is kerning. Kerning specifically refers to the adjustment of space between individual letter pairs to achieve a more visually pleasing and readable composition. It can be adjusted in various ways to prevent awkward gaps or overlaps between letters when certain character combinations are used.

Understanding kerning is essential for graphic designers and typographers as it affects the overall aesthetics of text. Proper kerning contributes to the clarity of written communication, making it more visually appealing and easy to read.

In contrast, leading refers to the space between lines of text, which is crucial for readability in paragraphs. Tracking, on the other hand, encompasses the uniform adjustment of space across a range of characters, affecting an entire block of text rather than specific letter pairs. Finally, spacing is a broader term that can refer to various types of spaces around or between elements in a design but is not specific to typography. Thus, kerning is accurately identified as the term for space between individual characters.