Legible paragraphs using the CH unit
CH lets us set the width on a text element if we’re trying to limit the number of characters (and it bases that width on the font’s zero character.) CH units are great for sizing something like a paragraph or a heading to limit the number of characters someone has to read per line. So your eyeballs don’t get strained from reading all the way across the screen each time.
Video transcript
What happens when I select a paragraph and set its maximum width — what if I set it to 10 ch? What happens?
Well, nothing, because I have to first press Return. Okay, still nothing, because this keyboard is broken. But if I use this fully functional keyboard and press Return? Boom.
Now. What’s actually happening? As it turns out, CH stands for “character unit.” It literally sets the max width to equal 10 of the number 0 in whichever font we’re using.
And when I want to keep paragraphs nice and legible? So my eyeballs don’t get strained from reading all the way across the screen each time? I can set it to something practical like 60 ch. And now it won’t ever get wider than 60 of the number 0 in whichever font is selected.
CH. It’s much easier to say those two letters than it is to describe how amazing it is.
