Web-safe fonts are those fonts likely to be present on a wide range of computer systems, and are used by web content authors to increase the chance that content will be displayed in their chosen font. If a visitor to a web site does not have the specified font, their browser will select an alternative — in the case of dingbat typefaces the alternative is unlikely to have similar characters at the same code points.

The most safe option is to use the generic font families as defined by the CSS. These are:

- sans-serif

- serif

- monospace

- cursive

- fantasy.

One of them should always be specified as a last resort for every font-family CSS property. Sans-serif is regularly specified in CSS as the default for generic font families, as sans-serif fonts are more easily readable on screens.

Microsoft has started a Core fonts for the Web initiative. However, despite the name, only some of the fonts defined are web-safe indeed. These are:

- Arial

- Courier New

- Georgia

- Times New Roman

- Verdana

- Trebuchet MS (more recently)

- Lucida Sans (to some extent).

Web Safe Fonts

In traditional printing serifed fonts are used for body text because they are considered easier to read than sans-serif fonts for this purpose. Sans-serif fonts are more often used in headlines, headings, and shorter pieces of text and subject matter requiring a more casual feel than the formal look of serifed types.

Serifed fonts are the overwhelming typeface choice for lengthy text printed in books, newspapers and magazines. For such purposes sans serif fonts are more acceptable in Europe than in North America, but still less common than serifed typefaces.

While in print serifed fonts are considered more readable, sans-serif is considered more legible on computer screens. For this reason the majority of web pages employ sans-serif type. Hinting information, anti-aliasing and subpixel rendering technologies have partially mitigated the legibility problem of serif fonts on screen. But the basic constraint of screen resolution — typically 100 pixels per inch or less — and small font sizes continues to limit their readability on screen.

Serif vs Sans-Serif Fonts