What Is Web Typography?

Web typography is a major component in the design of website pages, and good web typography is the art of presenting written content in the typeface that works best. The most important thing in web typography is to choose type that reinforces the meaning of the content.

Why Does Web Typography Matter?

Type displays everthing we read. It showcases thoughts and ideas. Web typography dictates whether a user can even read your content. The wrong kind of typeface can make the content of any webpage unreadable. As example 1 shows, sometimes the type is too small. Sometimes it is too decorative. And sometimes, it is the wrong color.

Alternatively, type can convey the wrong meaning in certain scenarios. Decorative script would not be used in a discharge letter, like in example 2 below. Instead, a formal and somewhat distant font would be used to convey a sense of detachment.

Sometimes, the wrong type choice can compromise the website’s accessibility. People who have vision impairments often need to use a screen reader to read the content of a website out loud. If a font is too decorative or complicated, the screen reader may not be able to function properly. Ultimately, web typography matters because people need to be able to read what was written.

What Elements of Web Typography Does This Website Discuss?

This website covers some basic principles of web typography. They are as follows:

• Fonts. Specifically, it focuses on serif versus sans serif, size, and emphasis.
• Color. Specifically, it focuses on the role of color, contrast, and overall visual appeal.
• Accessibility. Specifically, it focuses on what makes text accessible and readable.
• Impact. Specifically, it focuses on how readers interact with font, design, and white space.

With that, let’s talk typography!