Variable fonts have revolutionized typography on the web by allowing designers to use a single font file with multiple styles and weights instead of loading multiple static font files. This guide explores the advantages of variable fonts and how to implement them using CSS.
What Are Variable Fonts?
Variable fonts are a type of OpenType font that contains multiple styles within a single file. Unlike traditional fonts that require separate files for different weights (e.g., bold, italic, light), a variable font can interpolate between multiple design axes such as weight, width, slant, and optical size.
Benefits of Variable Fonts
Performance Improvement: Reduces the number of font files that need to be loaded, decreasing page load time.
Greater Design Flexibility: Allows for fine-tuned typography adjustments directly via CSS.
Smooth Transitions: Enables fluid animations between different font weights and styles.
Reduced HTTP Requests: Minimizes server requests, improving website efficiency.
Implementing Variable Fonts in CSS
Here is how to implement variable fonts in CSS:
Choosing a Variable Font
Many popular type foundries and font services offer variable fonts, including Google Fonts. For example, Inter and Roboto Flex are excellent choices for web typography.
Importing a Variable Font
You can import a variable font in CSS using @font-face or by linking to an online source such as Google Fonts.
Using Google Fonts
@import url(‘https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Inter:[email protected]&display=swap’);
Using @font-face
@font-face { font-family: ‘Inter’; src: url(‘Inter-VariableFont.woff2’) format(‘woff2’); font-weight: 100 900; }
3. Applying the Font in CSS
Once imported, you can apply the variable font to your elements: body { font-family: ‘Inter’, sans-serif; font-weight: 400; }
4. Using font-variation-settings
The font-variation-settings property allows you to control specific font axes manually.
h1 { font-family: ‘Inter’, sans-serif; font-variation-settings: ‘wght’ 700;}
5. Animating Variable Fonts
One of the most exciting features of variable fonts is the ability to animate them using CSS transitions and animations.
h1 { font-family: ‘Inter’, sans-serif; font-weight: 300; transition: font-weight 0.5s ease-in-out; }
h1:hover font-weight: 700;}
This creates a smooth transition effect when hovering over the heading.
6. Combining Multiple Axes
Some variable fonts support additional axes like width (wdth), slant (slnt), or optical size (opsz).
p {font-family: ‘Roboto Flex’, sans-serif; font-variation-settings: ‘wght’ 400, ‘wdth’ 75, ‘slnt’ -10;}
Browser Support
Variable fonts are supported in all modern browsers, including Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari. However, always test your fonts to ensure compatibility.
The best place to get variable fonts
When seeking the best place to acquire variable fonts, it’s advisable to explore reputable font foundries and platforms dedicated to contemporary typography. The TypeType library stands out with its impressive collection of 17 variable fonts, designed to address diverse tasks and stylistic preferences. These fonts are thoughtfully organized into distinct groups: the “ultimate workhorses” featuring three variability axes for maximum flexibility, fonts with two axes offering a balance of control, simple variable fonts with a single axis for straightforward adjustments, and innovative variable fonts that push the boundaries of font design itself.
Conclusion
Variable fonts provide web designers with powerful tools to create scalable, performant, and aesthetically pleasing typography. By leveraging CSS properties like font-variation-settings, font-weight, and animations, developers can enhance their websites while reducing the number of font files loaded. Start experimenting with variable fonts today and unlock a new level of design freedom in your web projects!
