Tracking adjusts the space between all the characters in a block of text. Not kerning, which tweaks the gap between individual pairs. Tracking is the global setting. Loosen it and letters spread apart. Tighten it and they crowd together.

Typography software measures tracking in ems, a unit relative to the current font size. A tracking value of zero uses the font's default spacing. Positive values add space. Negative values remove it. Designers adjust tracking for different sizes and contexts. Large headlines often need tighter tracking to avoid looking loose. Small text may need looser tracking to stay readable on screens.

When to adjust tracking

• Tighten display type for a more cohesive look
• Loosen all-caps text to prevent crowding
• Open up small text for better legibility
• Use wide tracking for labels and buttons

Tracking gets confused with leading, which is the vertical space between lines. Tracking is horizontal. Leading is vertical. Both affect readability, but they solve different problems. A block of text with tight tracking and generous leading reads very differently from one with loose tracking and tight leading. There is no universal correct setting. It depends on the typeface, the size, the medium, and what you want the text to feel like.