n390, based in Atlanta, Georgia, is a web application and design consultancy. We specialize in implementing content management systems which empower our clients to create a rich and dynamic web presence.
When selecting a font type for your website, consider how the font will influence readers' perceptions. For example, is your site content serious or informal?
In addition to setting the tone of your site, consider that some fonts are easier to read than others, and only a small number are widely available.
There are two main types of fonts: serif and sans serif. Serif fonts have little "tick" marks at the ends and tend to look best when printed. San serif fonts are more smooth looking and look better when read on a computer screen.
Comic Sans Serif is a good choice for a more whimsical site like one geared for kids, while Times New Roman is a little more conservative and often found on news pages.
Note that the font applies to all text visible on a website.
In general, a sans serif font looks better on computer screens while serif looks good printed on paper. Both font types look fine on the computer or PDA screens.
The more important part of choosing a font is availability. Not all web browsers have all fonts. This is especially true of PDA browsers like Blackberry, Palm, etc. Microsoft's Internet Explorer supports only a small number of fonts as well.
So, what fonts are best? The below set of fonts are called "Web Safe Fonts" and are highly recommended:
Web Safe Fonts
Numerous studies show that font size is a major issue with web users. In particular, most people do not like fonts that are too small or mixed. In other words, tiny font and several different types on the page annoy the majority of web users.
The recommened default font size is 10-12 point. Start with that and adjust up or down for elements such as titles, headers, footnotes, etc. However, bear in mind that each user can adjust the font on their own browser to whatever is most confortable for them. Therefore, attemts to fix the font size to match your design or preference can be counter productive.