What does "kerning" refer to in typography?

Kerning specifically refers to the adjustment of space between individual characters in a word to achieve a visually pleasing and readable text layout. This spacing adjustment can help to avoid awkward gaps and improve the overall aesthetic continuity of text, making the words appear more cohesive and balanced. Proper kerning ensures that letters fit together harmoniously, which is especially important in logo design or any highlighted text where legibility and design quality are paramount.

The other options focus on different aspects of typography. The size of the font relates to the overall height of the text characters, while the amount of space between lines of text is known as leading. The style of the font pertains to its visual appearance, such as serif or sans-serif, but does not address character spacing. Thus, the precise definition of kerning aligns directly with the adjustment of spacing between individual characters.