How to use web fonts in CSS

Web fonts have significantly expanded the typography options available to web designers, moving beyond the early reliance on a limited set of system fonts like Arial and Times New Roman. The introduction of web fonts, fully supported across browsers with the @font-face rule, has enabled the use of custom fonts that download with websites, thus offering a broader design palette without the constraints of restrictive licenses. Designers can now source fonts from repositories like Google Fonts or employ variable fonts that allow multiple variations within a single file, enhancing flexibility in design. Despite these advancements, considerations around page performance, especially on mobile devices, remain critical, as custom fonts can increase page weight and affect loading times. Strategies like FOUT (Flash of Unstyled Text) and FOIT (Flash of Invisible Text) help manage the user experience during font loading. The evolving landscape of web typography, while offering greater creative freedom, requires careful balance between aesthetic ambition and performance optimization.