In contrast, Windows tried to maximize legibility. They adapted the distribution of pixels within letters and words to make pixel density and letter shape optimal for reading. Microsoft used what’s now called font hinting, a set of instructions describing when to add additional pixels to each letter. This allows for improved legibility, but alters and even distorts original letterforms.

Unhinted character

Hinted character

However, changes to how fonts are rendered have reduced the differences between these approaches.