Definition of "Descenders" by Graphic Design Newcastle:
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In typography, descenders are the parts of certain lowercase letters that extend below the baseline of the font. Common letters with descenders include g, j, p, q, and y.
For example, in the word "jumping", the letters j, p, and g have descenders.
Descenders are important in type design and layout because they affect line spacing (leading) and overall readability. Proper handling of descenders ensures that text doesn't appear cramped or misaligned, especially in multi-line compositions.