| Extension | .woff |
| Category | documents |
| Description | .woff (Web Open Font Format)
The .woff file format is a web font format developed specifically for use on the web. It is essentially a compressed version of a TrueType or OpenType font, optimized for compact file size and quick loading over web pages. WOFF fonts enable web designers to use custom fonts on their web pages, ensuring that text is displayed in the intended style regardless of local fonts available on users' systemsThe format has wide browser support and is an integral part of web design for creating visually diverse and typographically rich web content. |
| Technical details | The `.woff` (Web Open Font Format) is a web font format optimized for web use with these features:
- **Standardization**: WOFF 1.0 standardized by the W3C in 2012, followed by the more efficient WOFF 2.0.
- **Compression**: WOFF 1.0 compresses TrueType/OpenType fonts; WOFF 2.0 uses Brotli algorithm for better compression.
- **Web Optimization**: Designed for efficient web use, enabling custom fonts without long load times.
- **Metadata/Private Data**: Can include licensing, designer details, or other font-related information.
- **Browser Support**: Broadly supported across modern web browsers.
- **Backward Compatibility**: WOFF 1.0 is backward compatible with TrueType and OpenType fonts.
- **Licensing and Usage**: Facilitates controlled web use of fonts while protecting intellectual property.
- **Reduced Bandwidth Demand**: Compression reduces bandwidth needs, enhancing web page load times.
- **WOFF vs. WOFF 2.0**: WOFF 2.0 offers about 30% better compression than WOFF 1.0, but both are widely used.
- **File Structure**: Includes a header, table directory entries, font data blocks, and optional metadata/private data blocks.
- **Embedding in CSS**: Typically embedded in web pages via CSS for specifying custom fonts.
`.woff` is essential for efficient font loading on the web, balancing font quality with web performance. The development of the WOFF file format has been a significant advancement in web typography, allowing for more creative and varied font usage on the web while addressing the practical considerations of file size and page load times. |
