Browser Safe Fonts

Specifying multiple fonts using HTML

These browser safe fonts will render well on various operating systems and browsers.

The best practice for managing fonts on web sites is to specify several fonts. Simply separate each font with a comma. For example:

Text Here

Using Style Sheets & Styles

If you're using one or more style sheets, a great way to handle multiple fonts is to first specify a specific font family-name or two and then specify a generic-name. For example:

/* Add this to your style sheet (the .css file). */
BODY { font-family: "new century schoolbook", serif } 

You can also use a style property right in your page. For example:

Common PC fonts:

• Verdana - abc, ABC, 123, Bold, Italic, Bold & Italic
• Arial - abc, ABC, 123, Bold, Italic, Bold & Italic
• Helvetica - abc, ABC, 123, Bold, Italic, Bold & Italic
• Courier New - abc, ABC, 123, Bold, Italic, Bold & Italic
• Palatino - abc, ABC, 123, Bold, Italic, Bold & Italic
• Times New Roman  - abc, ABC, 123, Bold, Italic, Bold & Italic

Common Unix fonts:

• Helvetica - abc, ABC, 123, Bold, Italic, Bold & Italic
• Times - abc, ABC, 123, Bold, Italic, Bold & Italic

Common Macintosh fonts:

• Helvetica - abc, ABC, 123, Bold, Italic, Bold & Italic

• Courier - abc, ABC, 123, Bold, Italic, Bold & Italic

• Palatino - abc, ABC, 123, Bold, Italic, Bold & Italic

• Times - abc, ABC, 123, Bold, Italic, Bold & Italic

• Verdana* - abc, ABC, 123, Bold, Italic, Bold & Italic

• Arial* - abc, ABC, 123, Bold, Italic, Bold & Italic

* These fonts are usually available to Mac users who install Internet Explorer 4.0 or above. They are also available for download from Microsoft's typography Web site.)

Generic Font-Families

For more information on generic font-families, click here.

• serif - abc, ABC, 123, Bold, Italic, Bold & Italic
• sans-serif - abc, ABC, 123, Bold, Italic, Bold & Italic
• cursive - abc, ABC, 123, Bold, Italic, Bold & Italic
• fantasy - abc, ABC, 123, Bold, Italic, Bold & Italic
• monospace - abc, ABC, 123, Bold, Italic, Bold & Italic