Selecting fonts for Web design
Fonts play an important role in Web design. Knowing which font is most suitable for a certain application will help maximise a website's professional appearance and readability.
There are two font typefaces available: serif typefaces and sans serif typefaces.
Serif typefaces (such as Times Roman/Times New Roman) are generally considered to make large documents easier to read than sans serif typefaces (such as Arial). This is because small strokes are used at the end of serif typeface characters, which makes them appear joined together.
Sans serif typefaces, in comparison, give the most professional appearance, and are therefore the most common choice in website design. They are also commonly used for headings and are easier to view at small font sizes, making them perfect for captions and diagrams. Sans serif typefaces, however, should be not be used for lengthy documents, in which case a serif typeface should be used instead to make the document easier to read.
When designing websites, you should always opt for using standard fonts such as Arial and Times Roman/Times New Roman. Although your computer may have a large number of fonts installed, it is likely that they will not be available on other computers. A website which has been designed for a non-standard font may not appear as intended on computers without the font installed.
