What are Web Safe Fonts?

Web-safe fonts are fonts that are universally installed on all browsers and devices.

Fallback Fonts

However, there are no fonts that are entirely guaranteed to be universally available on all web browsers and devices. There’s always a possibility that a font may not be found or installed correctly.

Hence, it’s crucial to incorporate fallback fonts.

This entails including a list of alternative “backup fonts” within the font-family property. If the primary font fails to load, the browser will attempt to use the next specified font, and so forth. It’s advisable to conclude the list with a generic font family name.

Example

In this scenario, there are three font types: Tahoma, Verdana, and a generic sans-serif option. The latter two fonts serve as backups, to be utilized if the first font is unavailable.

Best Web Safe Fonts for HTML and CSS

Below is a compilation of top web-safe fonts suitable for HTML and CSS:

• Arial (sans-serif)
• Verdana (sans-serif)
• Tahoma (sans-serif)
• Trebuchet MS (sans-serif)
• Times New Roman (serif)
• Georgia (serif)
• Garamond (serif)
• Courier New (monospace)
• Brush Script MT (cursive)

Arial (sans-serif)

Arial is extensively employed in both online and print media, serving as the default font in Google Docs.

It stands as one of the most reliable web fonts, being accessible on all major operating systems.

Example

Verdana (sans-serif)

Verdana enjoys widespread popularity due to its high readability, even when used for small font sizes.

Example

Tahoma (sans-serif)

The Tahoma font features tighter character spacing.

Example

Trebuchet MS (sans-serif)

Exercise caution when utilizing Trebuchet MS, a font created by Microsoft in 1996, as it may not be supported by all mobile operating systems.

Example

Times New Roman (serif)

Times New Roman stands out as one of the most universally recognized fonts, known for its professional appearance, often employed by newspapers and “news” websites. Additionally, it serves as the primary font for Windows devices and applications.

Example

Georgia (serif)

Georgia embodies an elegant serif font style. Its high readability across various font sizes makes it an excellent choice for mobile-responsive design.

Example

Garamond (serif)

Garamond is a classical font widely employed in printed books, characterized by its timeless appearance and excellent readability.

Example

Courier New (monospace)

Courier New is a highly utilized monospace serif font, commonly featured in coding displays and frequently adopted as the default font by numerous email providers. Additionally, it serves as the standard font for movie screenplays.

Example

Brush Script MT (cursive)

The Brush Script MT font was crafted to emulate handwriting, offering an elegant and sophisticated appearance. However, due to its challenging readability, it should be employed with caution.

Example