Variable fonts | CSS Selectors, Typography and More

Variable fonts are a new font format that allows you to adjust various font properties, such as weight, width, slant, optical size, and more, within a single font file. This provides greater flexibility and customization options for your web designs.

Key Benefits of Variable Fonts

• Reduced file size: Variable fonts can often be smaller than traditional font formats, leading to faster page load times.
• Customization: You can dynamically adjust font properties based on screen size, user preferences, or other factors.
• Improved performance: Variable fonts can improve performance by reducing the number of font files that need to be downloaded.

Using Variable Fonts

1. Obtain a variable font file: Find a variable font file that supports the desired properties.
2. Embed the font: Use the @font-face rule to embed the variable font file.
3. Apply the font: Use the font-family property to apply the font to your elements.
4. Adjust font properties: Use CSS variables or JavaScript to dynamically adjust font properties based on your needs.

Example

HTML

<link rel=”stylesheet” href=”styles.css”>

CSS

@font-face {

  font-family: ‘MyVariableFont’;

  src: url(‘fonts/myfont.woff2’) format(‘woff2’);

}

body {

  font-family: ‘MyVariableFont’, sans-serif;

  font-variation-settings: ‘wght’ 400, ‘wdth’ 75%;

}

In this example, we’re using the font-variation-settings property to set the font weight to 400 (regular) and the font width to 75%. You can adjust these values dynamically based on screen size, user preferences, or other factors.

Best Practices

• Choose appropriate variable fonts: Select variable fonts that support the properties you need.
• Optimize font files: Use tools to optimize your variable font files for performance.
• Test on various devices: Ensure your variable fonts work as expected on different browsers and devices.
• Consider fallback fonts: Provide a fallback font family in case the variable font is not supported.

Variable fonts offer a powerful way to create dynamic and responsive web designs. By understanding how to use them effectively, you can enhance the user experience and create visually appealing websites.