Font File Formats Explained
Understand the features and application scenarios of various font formats
Common Font Format Comparison
| Format | File Size | Compatibility | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTF | Large | Excellent | Traditional format, best compatibility |
| OTF | Medium | Good | Rich features, supports advanced typography |
| WOFF | Small | Good | Optimized for web |
| WOFF2 | Smallest | Modern browsers | Latest compression format |
TrueType Fonts (TTF)
Format Features
TrueType is a font format developed by Apple and Microsoft, using quadratic Bézier curves to describe glyph outlines.
Advantages
- �?Best compatibility, supported by almost all systems
- �?High rendering quality
- �?Supports hinting technology
- �?Mature and stable format
Disadvantages
- �?Relatively large file size
- �?Does not support OpenType advanced features
- �?Limited character set
OpenType Fonts (OTF)
Format Features
OpenType is a font format developed by Adobe and Microsoft, supporting larger character sets and richer typography features.
Advantages
- �?Supports Unicode character sets
- �?Rich OpenType features
- �?Better typography control
- �?Supports ligatures and alternates
Disadvantages
- �?Compatibility not as good as TTF
- �?File size may be larger
- �?Requires professional software support
Web Open Font Format (WOFF/WOFF2)
WOFF Format
WOFF (Web Open Font Format) is a font format designed for the web, using compression technology to reduce file size.
- �?File size 30-50% smaller than TTF
- �?Supports metadata and licensing info
- �?Widely supported by modern browsers
- �?Faster loading speed
WOFF2 Format
WOFF2 is an upgraded version of WOFF, using more advanced compression algorithms for even smaller file sizes.
- �?File size 30% smaller than WOFF
- �?Uses Brotli compression
- �?Supports variable fonts
- �?Future web font standard
Font Format Selection Advice
Web Applications
Prefer WOFF2, fallback to WOFF, finally TTF
CSS Example:
In @font-face, set priority: WOFF2 first, WOFF as fallback, TTF as last choice
Desktop Applications
Recommend using TTF or OTF format
- �?Windows: Prefer TTF
- �?macOS: Prefer OTF
- �?Cross-platform: TTF has better compatibility
Font Format Conversion
Recommended Conversion Tools
FontForge
Open source font editor, supports multiple format conversions
Online Conversion Tools
FontSquirrel, CloudConvert and other online services
Professional Software
Glyphs, FontLab and other professional font design software
Choose the Right Font Format
Understanding the features of different font formats helps you choose the most suitable font file for different scenarios.