Font-display

Definition

The `font-display` property is a CSS feature that controls how web fonts are displayed while they are being loaded. It helps enhance the user experience by allowing developers to specify how and when fonts should be shown, such as opting for fallback fonts or delaying the display until the web font is ready. This property directly impacts page performance and visual rendering, making it a critical aspect of web typography.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. `font-display` has several values including 'auto', 'block', 'swap', 'fallback', and 'optional', which determine how font loading is handled.
2. Using 'swap' ensures that fallback fonts are displayed until the web font loads, which can improve perceived loading speed for users.
3. 'fallback' provides a brief block period followed by a swap to the web font, helping to maintain layout integrity during loading.
4. 'optional' allows the browser to decide whether to load the web font based on user preferences, providing a more performance-focused approach.
5. The `font-display` property is essential for optimizing web performance and enhancing user experience, especially on slower networks.

Review Questions

• How does the `font-display` property affect the loading experience of web fonts for users?
  • `font-display` impacts how and when web fonts are presented to users. By specifying values like 'swap' or 'fallback', developers can ensure that fallback fonts appear immediately while web fonts load, improving user experience. This reduces perceived loading times and ensures that text is readable without waiting for web fonts, making it an essential tool in managing typography effectively.
• Discuss the different values of the `font-display` property and their implications for web performance.
  • The `font-display` property offers various values such as 'auto', 'block', 'swap', 'fallback', and 'optional'. Each value defines a different loading strategy; for example, 'swap' ensures immediate display of fallback fonts until the web font loads, enhancing speed. In contrast, 'optional' may not load the web font if conditions aren't ideal. Understanding these implications helps developers optimize website performance and typography.
• Evaluate how using `font-display: swap` could influence SEO and user engagement on a website.
  • `font-display: swap` can positively influence both SEO and user engagement by improving page load times and user experience. Fast-loading pages contribute to lower bounce rates, as users are less likely to leave if content appears quickly. Search engines prioritize user experience, so optimizing font loading with this property can enhance overall site performance and potentially improve search rankings as well.

Related terms

Web Fonts: Fonts that are downloaded and rendered on a webpage, often using @font-face rules to allow designers to use custom typography.

Fallback Fonts: Fonts that are used in place of a primary font if the primary font fails to load or isn't available, ensuring text remains readable.

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets): A style sheet language used to describe the presentation of a document written in HTML or XML, including layout, colors, and fonts.