CreateFont

CreateFont is a Windows API function in the Graphics Device Interface (GDI) that creates a logical font whose attributes are specified by the caller. The function returns an HFONT handle, which can be selected into a device context for subsequent text drawing operations. The attributes include height and width (nHeight, nWidth) that determine the font cell size, escapement and orientation (nEscapement, nOrientation) for rotated text, the font weight (fnWeight) for boldness, and flags for italic, underline, and strikeout (fdwItalic, fdwUnderline, fdwStrikeOut). Additional parameters specify the character set (fdwCharSet), output precision, clipping precision, and quality (fdwOutputPrecision, fdwClipPrecision, fdwQuality), as well as the pitch and family and the typeface name (fdwPitchAndFamily, lpszFace).

On success, the return value is a nonzero HFONT; on failure, NULL is returned and GetLastError can provide details. After creating the font, you typically select it into a device context with SelectObject, perform drawing operations, and then deselect and delete the object with DeleteObject when it is no longer needed.

Limitations and notes: The font created by CreateFont is a logical font subject to system font mapping, so the actual rendered glyphs may vary with system settings and available typefaces. For precise control over attributes, CreateFontIndirect can be used with a LOGFONT structure, or developers may prefer modern text rendering APIs such as DirectWrite for consistent rendering across devices. CreateFont remains part of legacy GDI workflows and continues to be used in existing codebases.

Related functions include CreateFontIndirect, DeleteObject, and SelectObject; you may also examine LOGFONT for the attribute structure.