Font vs. Typeface: What's the Difference?

Let's clarify the difference between the two.

Most people are familiar with the terms font and typeface. However, their exact definitions can be a bit confusing.

So what exactly do the terms font and typeface mean, and what are the differences between them. Read on to find out.

What Is a Typeface?

A typeface is a collection of characters that share a standard style. The characters most commonly represent a number, letter, or punctuation mark.

You can sort typefaces into different categories, the main ones being serif and sans serif. A serif typeface has a stylistic stroke that exists at the end of a character, and a sans serif typeface character doesn't have that stroke.

Thousands of typefaces exist, with Times New Roman and Helvetica among the most popular.

What Is a Font?

A font is a variation of a particular typeface based on characteristics such as size, width, and weight. For example, 10-point Times New Roman is a font, and 16-point Times New Roman is a different font.

Other font variations include bold, thin, and italic.

The Difference Between Fonts and Typefaces

The main difference between fonts and typefaces is that a single typeface has many different font variations.

Many people mistakenly refer to popular typefaces, such as Arial and Helvetica, as fonts when they are actually typefaces. The variations within these typefaces, such as the weights and sizes of the characters, are different fonts.

While these typography terms might seem a bit confusing, these words originate from the days when people printed text with cast metal or wooden block letters. Letters that shared a similar design were called types. Block letters were organized into separate boxes by variations such as size and weight. These variations later became known as fonts.

Choosing the Perfect Font and Typeface

So there you have it, that's the difference between fonts and typefaces.

While most people will continue to confuse these two words, they are used pretty much interchangeably these days. However, choosing the perfect font and typeface for your next project is often challenging.