What does 'tracking' mean in typography?

Tracking in typography refers to the consistent adjustment of spacing between groups of letters across a whole section of text, rather than between individual letters. While individual letter spacing is referred to as "kerning," tracking affects the overall density of the text and can influence its readability and aesthetic appearance.

When text is tracked properly, it helps create a uniform look, thereby enhancing the visual flow of the typography. This is especially important in larger blocks of text where readability can be compromised if the letter spacing is too tight or too loose. In contrast, the spacing between words is a separate concept and does not encompass the broader adjustments that tracking implies. Thus, tracking is fundamentally about the uniform spacing throughout the text, making it distinct from simply measuring spacing between individual letters or words, or the alignment of text.