Web Typography

A practical guide to choosing, pairing, and implementing typefaces for the web. Typography serves communication — the best typography is invisible, immersing readers in content rather than calling attention to itself.

Core Principle

Typography is the voice of your content. The typeface you choose sets tone before a single word is read. A legal site shouldn't feel playful; a children's app shouldn't feel corporate.

The "clear goblet" principle: Typography should be like a crystal-clear wine glass — the focus is on the wine (content), not the glass (type). Readers should absorb meaning, not notice letterforms.

Readers don't read, they scan. Eyes jump 7-9 characters at a time (saccades), pausing briefly (fixations). Good typography supports this natural pattern.

Scoring

Goal: 10/10. When reviewing or creating typography implementations, rate them 0-10 based on adherence to the principles below. A 10/10 means full alignment with all guidelines; lower scores indicate gaps to address. Always provide the current score and specific improvements needed to reach 10/10.

Two Contexts for Type

All typography falls into two categories: