A type specimen is a document or display that showcases the characteristics, styles, and variations of a typeface or font. It serves as a visual representation of the font, allowing designers, typographers, and other users to see how the typeface looks in different sizes, weights, and styles. They typically include samples of the font in various sizes, from small text to large headings, as well as examples of different weights (such as regular, bold, and italic) and styles (such as serif or sans-serif).

Additionally, specimens may showcase special characters, numerals, ligatures, and other typographic features that are part of the font. Specimens can be printed or presented digitally, and they play a crucial role in helping designers make informed decisions about which fonts to use for different design projects.