Descender

A descender is a part of a lowercase letter that extends below the baseline, the imaginary line on which letters sit. This characteristic distinguishes letters like 'g', 'j', 'p', 'q', and 'y' from those that do not descend. The visual appeal and readability of a typeface can be significantly impacted by the design of descenders. Descenders are also relevant in contexts like rope climbing, where a descender is a device used to control the rate of descent.

Descender meaning with examples

• The elegant calligraphic font was admired for its beautifully crafted descenders on letters like 'g' and 'p'. These subtle extensions added a touch of sophistication to the text, making the words feel lighter.
• When analyzing the font's kerning, the designer paid close attention to the space around the descenders, ensuring optimal legibility. Properly spaced descenders prevent letters from visually clashing and obscuring the text.
• In rock climbing, the experienced climber carefully attached the rope to the descender before rappelling. The descender gave the climber fine control over their speed, ensuring a safe and controlled descent down the cliff.
• The printing press struggled to handle the intricate design, as the descenders on the letterforms often snagged, creating imperfections that were difficult to correct. The resulting text looked poorly designed and unprofessional.