Re: [csswg-drafts] [css-inline-3] Improve illustrations for text edges (#11364)

@valler @michaeltaranto

> I think `leading` is not a good choice for either one, because (without context) it's unclear about whether it's where leading starts or ends. But given that the note mentions `ascent` and `descent`, as well as that CSS uses half leading, I personally understood the keyword for what it was meant to represent. Changing `text` to `leading` would be quite a bit more confusing for the same reason. One could not be sure wether this means extender, or "where the line ends" (at half leading).
> 
> So `line` and `extender` maybe, unless `extender` is too technical, in which case I'd go for `line` and `text`.
> 
> Edit: In writing modes `line` is also used in this fashion: https://www.w3.org/TR/css-writing-modes-4/#line-directions (`line-over`, `line-under`, etc.).

---

OK But `leading` is already a thing with meaning, so shouldn't it behave the way `leading` behaves? 

i.e. It adjusts the space between lines, not the space above and below.

Using terms like `line`, `extender` or `text` creates unnecessary confusion, work, and time to get it implemented - it's already been years. As does redefining `leading` to somehow mean `half-leading` - what is that?

At a most basic level, `line-height` doesn't behave like `leading` - that's the initial frustration we're trying to solve. 

I wish `leading` could be separated out so it could be implemented faster...

```CSS
line-height: none;
leading: 1.4rem;
``` 

Which would change the box model to control space between the lines, like `leading` does. 

Then this spec controls the minutia - taking many more years to come to browsers. Know what I mean?

Cheers, Ben

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Received on Wednesday, 22 October 2025 17:21:49 UTC