What does the term "kerning" refer to?

The term "kerning" specifically refers to the adjustment of space between individual pairs of letters in a typeface. This adjustment is made to improve the visual appearance and readability of text. For example, certain letter combinations, like "A" and "V," may require more or less space between them to look visually balanced and cohesive, as the shapes of the letters can lead to awkward spacing if not properly adjusted. Good kerning enhances overall typography and contributes significantly to the aesthetic quality of the design.

The other options relate to different aspects of typography and graphic design: the space between words is known as "tracking," adjusting brightness pertains to image editing, and text alignment involves positioning text within a designated area of a design. Each of these plays a role in the overall layout and presentation of design elements, but "kerning" is distinct in its specific focus on letter pair spacing.