Variable fonts are one of the new features of CSS that provide designers with the ability to have a single font file that can change multiple characteristics such as weight, style, and other appearances. By using variable fonts, you can create several different styles using a single font file, which can help in faster page rendering and better website optimization.
Variable fonts not only simplify the work for designers but also offer greater flexibility. Imagine that you can change a font from a thin state to a bold state using just one file or even cover all styles in between. This entire flexibility requires no need to load several different font files, making it easier for you.
To use variable fonts in CSS, you need to utilize CSS properties like font-variation-settings and @font-face. These allow you to adjust your font with specified changes and enable you to work with all its features.
To use variable fonts, you initially need to add the variable font itself to the website. This process is simple and only requires a specific CSS code. Now allow me to show you an example:
@font-face {
font-family: 'MyVariableFont';
src: url('MyVariableFont.woff2') format('woff2');
}
.text {
font-family: 'MyVariableFont';
font-variation-settings: 'wght' 400;
}
Description
@font-face: This rule is used to define a new variable font to the browser that is provided as a variable.
font-family: Name assigned to the variable font for use in CSS.
src: The location of the font file specified as a URL so the browser can load it.
.text: The CSS class meant to be applied to HTML elements and assigns the new font to them.
font-variation-settings: 'wght' 400: This parameter specifies what weight the font will display.