LineMetrics (Java Platform SE 8 )
Keywords: java.awt.font.LineMetrics class
Date: 2026-04-17

java.awt.font

## Class LineMetrics

- java.lang.Object
- - java.awt.font.LineMetrics

-     public abstract class LineMetrics
      extends Object

  The `LineMetrics` class allows access to the metrics needed to layout characters along a line and to layout of a set of lines. A `LineMetrics` object encapsulates the measurement information associated with a run of text.

  Fonts can have different metrics for different ranges of characters. The `getLineMetrics` methods of `Font` take some text as an argument and return a `LineMetrics` object describing the metrics of the initial number of characters in that text, as returned by `getNumChars()`.

- - ### Constructor Summary

    Constructors
    Constructor and Description
    `LineMetrics()`

  - ### Method Summary

    All Methods Instance Methods Abstract Methods
    Modifier and Type | Method and Description
    --- | ---
    `abstract float` | `getAscent()` Returns the ascent of the text.
    `abstract int` | `getBaselineIndex()` Returns the baseline index of the text.
    `abstract float[]` | `getBaselineOffsets()` Returns the baseline offsets of the text, relative to the baseline of the text.
    `abstract float` | `getDescent()` Returns the descent of the text.
    `abstract float` | `getHeight()` Returns the height of the text.
    `abstract float` | `getLeading()` Returns the leading of the text.
    `abstract int` | `getNumChars()` Returns the number of characters (`char` values) in the text whose metrics are encapsulated by this `LineMetrics` object.
    `abstract float` | `getStrikethroughOffset()` Returns the position of the strike-through line relative to the baseline.
    `abstract float` | `getStrikethroughThickness()` Returns the thickness of the strike-through line.
    `abstract float` | `getUnderlineOffset()` Returns the position of the underline relative to the baseline.
    `abstract float` | `getUnderlineThickness()` Returns the thickness of the underline.

    - ### Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

      `clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait`

- - ### Constructor Detail

    - #### LineMetrics

          public LineMetrics()

  - ### Method Detail

    - #### getNumChars

          public abstract int getNumChars()

      Returns the number of characters (`char` values) in the text whose metrics are encapsulated by this `LineMetrics` object.
      Returns:
        the number of characters (`char` values) in the text with which this `LineMetrics` was created.

    - #### getAscent

          public abstract float getAscent()

      Returns the ascent of the text. The ascent is the distance from the baseline to the ascender line. The ascent usually represents the the height of the capital letters of the text. Some characters can extend above the ascender line.
      Returns:
        the ascent of the text.

    - #### getDescent

          public abstract float getDescent()

      Returns the descent of the text. The descent is the distance from the baseline to the descender line. The descent usually represents the distance to the bottom of lower case letters like 'p'. Some characters can extend below the descender line.
      Returns:
        the descent of the text.

    - #### getLeading

          public abstract float getLeading()

      Returns the leading of the text. The leading is the recommended distance from the bottom of the descender line to the top of the next line.
      Returns:
        the leading of the text.

    - #### getHeight

          public abstract float getHeight()

      Returns the height of the text. The height is equal to the sum of the ascent, the descent and the leading.
      Returns:
        the height of the text.

    - #### getBaselineIndex

          public abstract int getBaselineIndex()

      Returns the baseline index of the text. The index is one of `ROMAN_BASELINE`, `CENTER_BASELINE`, `HANGING_BASELINE`.
      Returns:
        the baseline of the text.

    - #### getBaselineOffsets

          public abstract float[] getBaselineOffsets()

      Returns the baseline offsets of the text, relative to the baseline of the text. The offsets are indexed by baseline index. For example, if the baseline index is `CENTER_BASELINE` then `offsets[HANGING_BASELINE]` is usually negative, `offsets[CENTER_BASELINE]` is zero, and `offsets[ROMAN_BASELINE]` is usually positive.
      Returns:
        the baseline offsets of the text.

    - #### getStrikethroughOffset

          public abstract float getStrikethroughOffset()

      Returns the position of the strike-through line relative to the baseline.
      Returns:
        the position of the strike-through line.

    - #### getStrikethroughThickness

          public abstract float getStrikethroughThickness()

      Returns the thickness of the strike-through line.
      Returns:
        the thickness of the strike-through line.

    - #### getUnderlineOffset

          public abstract float getUnderlineOffset()

      Returns the position of the underline relative to the baseline.
      Returns:
        the position of the underline.

    - #### getUnderlineThickness

          public abstract float getUnderlineThickness()

      Returns the thickness of the underline.
      Returns:
        the thickness of the underline.

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