In typography, the x-height or size refers to the distance between the baseline and the mean line in a typeface. Typically, this is the height of the letter x in the font (which is where the terminology came from), as well as the a, c, e, m, n, o, r, s, u, v, w, and z. However, in modern typography, the x-height is simply a design characteristic of the font, and while an x is usually exactly one x-height in height, this is not always the case. The x-height is a factor in typeface identification and readability. Typefaces with a tall “x-height” tend to be easier to read at smaller point sizes and generally appear larger.
Lowercase letters whose height is greater than the x-height either have descenders which extend below the baseline, such as y, g, q, and p, or have ascenders which extend above the x-height, such as l, k, b, and d. The ratio of the x-height to the body height is one of the major characteristics that defines the appearance of a font. So if a typeface looks too fat, it might not be the weight of the font it might just be the x-height.
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