Serif (Anatomy)

The small projecting feature (a foot, slab, or wedge) at the end of a
Stroke
in a
Serif
Typeface
. In the anatomical sense (as distinct from the classification sense), a serif is a discrete structural element whose form, size, and attachment style vary widely across subgroups:
Old Style Serif
serifs are typically bracketed with a smooth curved transition into the
Stem
;
Slab Serif
are thick and block-like with minimal or no bracketing;
Modern Serif
serifs are unbracketed hairlines. Serif shape is one of the quickest visual cues for identifying a typeface's classification.