Ever visit a website and the words look kind of strange or some if just a bit off? Maybe it’s a jumbled mess, or just simply a little hard to read. If this is the case, chances are, the website used a font that your device does not support.
The good news is that web safe fonts are the answer to this very problem. That is because they are fonts that come pre-installed on almost all computer and smartphone operating systems (like Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android platforms) and web browsers.
Thus, when you use web safe fonts in your website, this ensures that that that your visitors will actually see those fonts rendered, as intended, regardless of the device or browser they viewing it from. This helps to make your web page content more readable, enhancing the user experience.
Benefits of Using Web Safe Fonts
Web safe fonts are a dependable choice for many situations. Want a website that just works, no matter what? Web safe fonts just might be for you. Here are a few reasons why.
Cross-Browser Compatibility
Web safe fonts look the same no matter which browser someone uses. That means you will get a consistent appearance of fonts across different web browsers. This is key for a good user experience. This ensures your message gets across clearly, for all visitors.
Faster Loading Times
Web safe fonts can help your page load faster. Why? That is because web browsers do not need to download any special font files. The end result is less waiting and a more seamless experience for website visitors. How great is that?
Simpler Web Design
Using web safe fonts makes web design simpler. There is no need to manage or host font files. Instead, your web designer gets to focus one better content, not font logistics. This simplifies the web design workflow.
Why are Web Safe Fonts Important?
It has been reported that there are up to 5 billion web browser-enabled devices being used worldwide. As such, not everyone has the same fonts installed on their devices. Using custom fonts that are not readily available can lead to a less desirable user experience. Here are some reasons why web safe font usage is crucial:
Consistent Visual Experience
They ensure your website’s design looks as intended across different platforms. This consistency is important for maintaining brand identity and a professional image.
Improved Readability
At its core, web safe fonts are generally designed for readability within a web browser. They are clear, easily recognized and avoid overly decorative elements that can diminish comprehension.
Faster Page Load Times
As mentioned earlier, using custom fonts often requires downloading font files, which can significantly increase page load times. Web safe fonts eliminate this dilemma, contributing to a faster and more responsive website.
Accessibility
Web safe fonts are typically well-supported by assistive technologies like screen readers, making your website more accessible to users with disabilities.
Fallback Assurance
Even when using CSS font loading techniques such as @font-face (which allows you to use custom fonts), it is still a best practice to specify a web safe font as a fallback. What is a font fallback? A font fallback is a way to ensure that if the custom font fails to load, your content will still be displayed using a readable, widely available alternative font.
Popular Examples of Web Safe Fonts:
While the exact list can vary slightly depending on the source and specific browser version, some of the most common and reliable web safe fonts include:
- Arial
- Courier New
- Georgia
- Times New Roman
- Verdana
So, as you can see, the use of web safe fonts serves as a crucial element of web design, ensuring consistency, readability and accessibility for users utilizing a wide range of devices and browsers.
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