webfontformat

A webfont format is a digital file format used to deliver fonts over the internet to web browsers. These formats allow designers to use custom fonts on websites, ensuring a consistent visual experience for all users regardless of their operating system's installed fonts. Without webfonts, websites would be limited to a small set of "web-safe" fonts, which are universally available on most devices.

The primary goal of webfont formats is to enable the efficient and scalable delivery of font data. This means the files need to be relatively small to avoid significantly impacting page load times, and they must be compatible with various browsers and devices. Different formats have been developed over time to address these needs, with varying levels of compression, licensing, and browser support.

Key webfont formats include WOFF (Web Open Font Format), WOFF2, TrueType (TTF), OpenType (OTF), and Embedded OpenType (EOT). WOFF and WOFF2 are considered the modern standards, offering excellent compression and broad browser support. WOFF2, in particular, provides superior compression compared to WOFF, making it the preferred choice for new web projects. Older formats like TTF and OTF are still supported by many browsers, though they might not be as optimized for web use. EOT was primarily developed by Microsoft for Internet Explorer.

Implementing webfonts typically involves using CSS, specifically the @font-face rule, to link the font files to the desired text elements on a webpage. This allows developers to specify font families, weights, and styles using custom typefaces. The choice of webfont format can influence performance and accessibility, making it an important consideration in web design and development.