7 Spacing Terms You Must Know
Mar 10, 2025
·
2 min read
Spacing plays a crucial role in UI design, influencing readability, usability, and visual hierarchy. Mastering key spacing terms helps designers create balanced, well-structured layouts.
In this guide, we’ll break down seven spacing terms you must know as a designer.
Dimensions
First on our list of spacing terms you must know are dimensions. They are the width and height of a UI element. In flexible components, one dimension might be static and another one dynamic.
Padding
Padding is the space between elements within a component.
Alignment
Alignment is the placement of elements in relation to other elements. It can make or break your design, as our eyes always look for visual guides to follow.
Keylines
Keyline is an alignment tool that helps you maintain consistent placement of elements outside of the layout grid.
Aspect ratio
Aspect ratio is a proportion of an element’s width to its height. To increase consistency, use consistent aspect ratios of the same elements.
Flexible ratio
A flexible ratio is determined by the layout grid. Width is determined by the layout, while height is determined by the element’s properties and content.
Grid
Grid is the last but not least on our list of spacing terms you must know. It is a way to align UI elements based on sequenced columns and/or rows. A 12-column grid is common for web design as it is very flexible (12 is divisible by 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12). The choice of the grid depends on the layout you want to achieve.
Dimensions
First on our list of spacing terms you must know are dimensions. They are the width and height of a UI element. In flexible components, one dimension might be static and another one dynamic.
Padding
Padding is the space between elements within a component.
Alignment
Alignment is the placement of elements in relation to other elements. It can make or break your design, as our eyes always look for visual guides to follow.
Keylines
Keyline is an alignment tool that helps you maintain consistent placement of elements outside of the layout grid.
Aspect ratio
Aspect ratio is a proportion of an element’s width to its height. To increase consistency, use consistent aspect ratios of the same elements.
Flexible ratio
A flexible ratio is determined by the layout grid. Width is determined by the layout, while height is determined by the element’s properties and content.
Grid
Grid is the last but not least on our list of spacing terms you must know. It is a way to align UI elements based on sequenced columns and/or rows. A 12-column grid is common for web design as it is very flexible (12 is divisible by 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12). The choice of the grid depends on the layout you want to achieve.
Understanding these seven spacing terms is essential for crafting structured and visually appealing UI designs. By applying these concepts, designers can ensure alignment, consistency, and readability across interfaces. Keep these terms in mind to elevate your design work and create more intuitive user experiences.
If you aren't following us on Instagram already, you're seriously missing out! Become a part of our ever-growing community and learn something new from the field of product design every. single. day.
Happy designing! 🥳
andrija & supercharge design team
Understanding these seven spacing terms is essential for crafting structured and visually appealing UI designs. By applying these concepts, designers can ensure alignment, consistency, and readability across interfaces. Keep these terms in mind to elevate your design work and create more intuitive user experiences.
If you aren't following us on Instagram already, you're seriously missing out! Become a part of our ever-growing community and learn something new from the field of product design every. single. day.
Happy designing! 🥳
andrija & supercharge design team
