Optimal Line Length
The 66-character myth and reality.
Saccades and Doubling
If a line is too long, the eye struggles to find the start of the next line (doubling). If too short, the eye bounces too frequently.
Eye-tracking research indicates that line lengths exceeding 80 characters cause doubling in 40% of readers.
Common Line Length Mistakes
| Mistake | Impact | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| 100% width text on desktop | Unreadable walls of text. | Constrain max-width to roughly 65ch. |
Character Count Estimator
FAQ
Does font size change the optimal length?
Yes, but the metric should always be calculated in 'ch' (characters) rather than pixels.
Explore the Architecture
Connect this concept to the broader system: