Choosing The Right Font What Are The Best Fonts For Websites?
Web-safe fonts are the ones that remain common along with all versions of Windows, Mac, etc. Basically, these are text styles, which every user (irrespective of their OS) can view. Here's a list of web-safe fonts which you can use to make your website attractive and user-friendly.
For a web designer, it is important to know the websafe fonts, which can be safely used. This is because, at times, users might not be able to view the content on your website due to the font on it. Choosing the right typeface is crucial because it influences the way readers perceive your website. Hence, it is important to choose readable modern fonts, are in tune with the character of your website, and most importantly compatible with the largest number of computers.
Serif and Sans Serif fonts are the two types of fonts, which can be used on most Operating Systems. Some of the websafe and common serif fonts are Times New Roman, Georgia, and Times. However, the Cambria and Constantia are accessible on Windows Vista alone. Among the sans-serif fonts, Arial, Arial Black, Century Gothic, Trebuchet MS, and Verdana are the most compatible fonts.
- Times New Roman: The most common serif font, and remains the Windows default font. It appears to be a serious and formal font and is dismissed as old-fashioned.
- Arial: It is one of the most common types of sans serif font and is the default font for Windows too. However, it appears to be plain and dull.
- Verdana: It is another widely accepted sans serif font, and is one of the clearest fonts concerning readability.
- Georgia: This was introduced by Microsoft for online reading, and appears to be a modern and professional font, one which can be used with most types of websites.
- Comic Sans Serif: This is an informal and friendly font, which is similar to the ones used in comics.
While using the fonts listed above, it is important to use some best practices, including fallback fonts to ensure that users experience the same look and feel. This will also ensure that the fonts are close enough to avoid experiences where the website is damaged due to the usage of a particular one and its unavailability at the user's end.
Computer screens are low resolution and complex serif fonts don't always translate as well on screen as they do in print. Serif fonts (especially in small sizes) can therefore be much more difficult to read than sans serif fonts of similar size on a screen. For this reason, it is often better to go with sans serif fonts for web body text. Be sure to select a one that can be read at different sizes.
Although there are no hard and fast rules for selecting typefaces in publications, it is important to remember that, whether printed or displayed on a screen, the fonts you use can greatly affect how the piece is received, interpreted, and understood.