Querbalken
Der horizontale Strich in Buchstaben wie 'A', 'H', 'e', 'f'. Seine Position relativ zur x-Höhe beeinflusst die Lesbarkeit.
A crossbar (also called a cross-stroke or bar) is a horizontal stroke that connects two sides of a letter or intersects a vertical stroke. Crossbars appear in uppercase letters 'A', 'H', 'e', and 'f', and play a key role in letter recognition and the overall visual rhythm of a typeface.
The position of the crossbar is a significant design variable. In the letter 'e', a high crossbar creates a more open aperture below (generally better for legibility). A low crossbar in 'e' is a distinctive feature of some type designs, creating a more closed counter. In 'A', the crossbar position affects the visual weight and balance of the letterform — centered crossbars feel mathematical, while lower crossbars give a more classical, Roman inscription feeling.
/* Crossbar differences are most visible in display sizes */
.crossbar-demo-a {
font-family: 'EB Garamond', serif;
font-size: 72px;
/* Compare the 'e' crossbar position with the font below */
}
.crossbar-demo-b {
font-family: 'Montserrat', sans-serif;
font-size: 72px;
/* 'e' has a different crossbar height and stroke weight */
}
In the letter 'f', the crossbar height determines how much of the ascender rises above it, and whether the crossbar connects to adjacent 'i' letters (the basis for the 'fi' ligature). This is why fonts with crossbars set at the x-height naturally produce elegant 'fi' ligatures — the crossbar of 'f' meets the dot of 'i' at exactly the right height.
Crossbar weight (thickness) also varies by font style. In high-contrast serif typefaces like Playfair Display, the horizontal crossbar may be a hairline-thin stroke, creating dramatic contrast with the heavy vertical stems. In low-contrast sans-serifs, crossbars match the stem weight closely, producing the uniform-stroke appearance that characterizes the style.
When designing custom logotypes or wordmarks in SVG, the crossbar is often the element that most clearly distinguishes a letterform as belonging to a particular typographic tradition — making it the place where brand personality in custom lettering is most visible.