The point, a tiny unit of measure, is widely used for length in Imperial and U.S. customary systems. In printing and typography, it signifies the smallest measurement within a line of text. Once upon a time, printers relied on metal rods with pointed tips to gauge type size according to points.
In the English system, one point equals 1/70th of an inch (approximately 0.013837 inches). On the other hand, in the American system, it denotes 1/100th of a foot (around 0.3048006 inches). The point has also found utilization in other measuring systems, such as Pica—a scheme embraced by printers.
Typically equivalent to 1/72nd of an inch in digital printing and desktop publishing—although occasionally valued at 1/96th—analogous to its typographical context where it serves as the smallest unit of measure alongside picas and ciceros.
Points play pivotal roles across numerous industries, including printing, packaging, and advertising. They determine type height while being fundamentally relevant within the United States’ printing and advertising sectors; European usage tends towards print and packaging applications instead.
What makes points significant lies in their ability to provide a universally shared zero reference point for various measurements. While rulers aid us in determining lengths expressed through inches or centimeters, deciding upon this starting position—for all subsequent evaluations—involves pinpointing that crucial zero mark often situated at one end of the said ruler. By establishing this common reference point up front, comparing measurements across distinct objects or individuals becomes more straightforward.