What type of font includes small decorative strokes at the outer points of characters?

The correct choice is serif, which refers to a specific style of font characterized by small decorative strokes, or "serifs," at the ends of the main strokes of each letter. These embellishments provide a visual distinction that can enhance readability and contribute to the overall aesthetics of the text. Serif fonts are often used in print media, such as newspapers and books, because they are believed to guide the reader's eye along the lines of text more smoothly.

In contrast, sans-serif fonts do not have these decorative strokes, making them appear cleaner and more modern; they tend to be preferred for digital content because they can be easier to read on screens. Monospace fonts are designed such that each character occupies the same amount of horizontal space, which is valuable in coding and tabular data presentations, but they do not feature decorative strokes. Decorative fonts encompass a variety of whimsical or artistic styles, but they may or may not have serifs, focusing instead on distinctive designs rather than the traditional serif embellishments. Thus, serif accurately describes the type of font that includes those small decorative strokes.