Typefaces

A typeface is a cohesive design of letters, numbers, and symbols. A typeface family includes styles such as regular, bold, and italic that share a common design. A font is a particular style and weight of a typeface, delivered as digital or physical glyphs.

Type design began in the 15th century with movable type in Europe. Early faces imitated manuscript scripts; blackletter remained common in northern Europe. In the 18th and 19th centuries, transitional and Didone faces introduced higher contrast and sharper details. The 20th century saw sans-serif forms gain prominence for modern aesthetics and readability on screens, with influential examples like Helvetica and Univers. Digital typography in the late 20th century added scalable outlines and standardized formats such as TrueType and OpenType.

Typographic classification groups typefaces by style: serif and sans-serif are the broadest categories; display faces are highly decorative; scripts imitate handwriting; monospace faces align fixed widths. Many families include a range of weights and widths for varied use in print and digital media.

Key terms describe the shape and structure: baseline on which glyphs sit; x-height the height of lowercase letters; ascenders and descenders extend above or below the baseline; cap height marks uppercase height; stems, bowls, and serifs describe strokes; contrast refers to thickness differences between strokes; weight and width affect tone and legibility.

Choice of typeface influences readability, tone, and branding. Typefaces are often paired to contrast personalities while maintaining harmony. In digital work, fonts are deployed via formats such as TrueType or OpenType, with licensing and embedding rules that govern usage across devices and platforms.