The Font Detective: Identify the Fonts Used on a Website

Unlock the secrets of a website's typeface with this step-by-step guide. Learn how to use browser developer tools, online font detection tools and font identifier software to identify the fonts used on any website.

Chance M

When it comes to designing a website, one of the most important considerations is the choice of fonts. The right font can help to create a consistent and professional look, while the wrong font can make a website look unappealing and unprofessional. That’s why it’s important to know what fonts a website is using. In this article, we’ll be discussing various methods for identifying the fonts used on a website, including using browser developer tools, online font detection tools, and font identifier software.

By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of how to check what fonts a website is using, and will be equipped with the tools and knowledge to identify the fonts used on any website. Whether you’re a web designer, developer, or simply someone who is curious about the design choices of a particular website, this article will be a valuable resource.

Using Browser Developer Tools:

When it comes to identifying the fonts used on a website, one of the most convenient methods is to use the developer tools that come built-in with most web browsers. These tools allow you to inspect the HTML, CSS, and other elements of a web page, including the fonts.

Here are the step-by-step instructions on how to use developer tools in different browsers to inspect the fonts used on a website:

Google Chrome:

  • Right-click on the web page and select “Inspect”
  • Click on the “Computed” tab in the Developer Tools window
  • Scroll down to the “Font” section to view the fonts used on the page

Mozilla Firefox:

  • Right-click on the web page and select “Inspect Element”
  • Click on the “Computed” tab in the Developer Tools window
  • Scroll down to the “Font” section to view the fonts used on the page

Apple Safari:

  • Go to “Preferences” and select the “Advanced” tab
  • Check the “Show Develop menu in menu bar” option
  • Right-click on the web page and select “Inspect Element”
  • Click on the “Computed” tab in the Developer Tools window
  • Scroll down to the “Font” section to view the fonts used on the page

Microsoft Edge:

  • Right-click on the web page and select “Inspect Element”
  • Click on the “Computed” tab in the Developer Tools window
  • Scroll down to the “Font” section to view the fonts used on the page

The above instructions are for the latest versions of each browser, but the process may be slightly different for older versions.

Inspecting the “Font” section will show you all the fonts used on the page, including the font-family, font-size, line-height, etc. It will also show you the font files being loaded, allowing you to download and use them in your own projects.

Additionally, you can also use developer tools to inspect the different elements of a webpage, such as text, headings, links, and images, to see what specific font-family is being used for each element. This can be done by selecting the element in the “Elements” tab of the developer tools and checking the “Computed” section for the font-family.

In this way, using browser developer tools is a quick and easy way to identify the fonts used on a website, and is a good starting point for anyone looking to learn more about the design choices of a particular website.

Using Online Font Detection Tools:

Another way to identify the fonts used on a website is by using online font detection tools. These tools allow you to simply enter the URL of a website, and then they will scan the page and identify the fonts used on the website.

Here are a few popular online font detection tools you can use:

  • WhatFont: This is a browser extension available for Chrome, Firefox, and Safari, which allows you to easily identify the fonts used on a website by simply hovering your mouse over the text.
  • FontSquirrel Matcherator: This tool allows you to upload a screenshot of the text you want to identify, and it will match the font used in the image to the closest available fonts in its database.
  • Identifont: This tool allows you to answer a series of questions about the font you’re trying to identify, and it will then provide a list of possible matches.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use WhatFont:

  1. Install the WhatFont browser extension
  2. Visit the website you want to inspect
  3. Hover over the text you want to identify
  4. The font name and type will appear in a small box

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use FontSquirrel Matcherator:

  1. Go to the Matcherator website
  2. Click on the “Select Image” button and choose the screenshot of the text you want to identify
  3. Click “Upload”
  4. The website will match the font used in the image to the closest available fonts in its database

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use Identifont:

  1. Go to the Identifont website
  2. Answer a series of questions about the font you’re trying to identify
  3. The website will provide a list of possible matches

Online font detection tools can be a useful way to identify the fonts used on a website, especially if you’re not familiar with using developer tools. However, it’s worth noting that these tools are not always 100% accurate and may not identify all the fonts used on a website.

Additionally, some of these tools may require you to take a screenshot of the text or upload an image to identify the font, which can be a little bit more time-consuming than using developer tools. However, these tools can be a good alternative if you can’t access the developer tools in the browser you are using.

Using Font Identifier Software:

In addition to using browser developer tools and online font detection tools, you can also use font identifier software to identify the fonts used on a website. These software programs are typically designed for use on a computer, and allow you to identify fonts by analyzing an image or document.

Here are a few popular font identifier software that you can use:

  • FontLab: This is a professional font editor that allows you to identify and edit fonts. It can be used to identify the fonts used in an image or document, and also allows you to make your own font.
  • TypeLight: This is a font editor software that allows you to identify, design, and edit fonts. It can be used to identify the fonts used in an image or document, and also allows you to make your own font.
  • WhatTheFont: This is a font identification tool that allows you to identify the fonts used in an image by uploading a screenshot of the text.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use FontLab:

  1. Download and install FontLab on your computer
  2. Open the program and select “Open” from the File menu
  3. Navigate to the image or document that contains the font you want to identify
  4. Click on the “Identify” button
  5. FontLab will analyze the image and display a list of possible font matches

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use TypeLight:

  1. Download and install TypeLight on your computer
  2. Open the program and select “Open” from the File menu
  3. Navigate to the image or document that contains the font you want to identify
  4. Click on the “Identify” button
  5. TypeLight will analyze the image and display a list of possible font matches

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use WhatTheFont:

  1. Go to the WhatTheFont website (https://www.myfonts.com/pages/whatthefont)
  2. Click on the “Browse” button and select the screenshot of the text you want to identify
  3. Click on the “Submit Image” button
  4. The website will match the font used in the image to the closest available fonts in its database

Using font identifier software can be a useful way to identify the fonts used on a website, especially if the font is not standard and not identified by browser developer tools or online font detection tools. These software programs are typically more advanced and offer a greater level of control and precision than browser developer tools or online font detection tools. However, they can be a bit more difficult to use and may require some prior knowledge of typography and font design.

Final Note

In this article, we have discussed various methods for identifying the fonts used on a website, including using browser developer tools, online font detection tools, and font identifier software.

Using browser developer tools is a quick and easy way to identify the fonts used on a website. These tools are built-in to most web browsers, and allow you to inspect the HTML, CSS, and other elements of a web page, including the fonts.

Online font detection tools are another way to identify the fonts used on a website. These tools allow you to simply enter the URL of a website, and then they will scan the page and identify the fonts used on the website.

Font identifier software is a more advanced method of identifying fonts. These software programs are typically designed for use on a computer, and allow you to identify fonts by analyzing an image or document.

No matter which method you choose, it is important to have a good understanding of the design choices of a website. Knowing what fonts are used on a website can help you to create a more consistent and professional look for your own website.

In conclusion, learning how to check what fonts a website is using is an important skill for web designers, developers, and anyone who is interested in web design. By following the methods outlined in this article, you will be able to identify the fonts used on any website, and have a better understanding of the design choices that have been made.

Additional Resources:

  1. Google Chrome Browser Developer Tools: This powerful tool built into the Chrome browser allows users to inspect the HTML and CSS of a website, including the fonts used. To access the developer tools in Chrome, simply right-click on a page and select “Inspect.” https://developer.chrome.com/docs/devtools
  2. Mozilla Firefox Browser Developer Tools: Similar to Chrome, Firefox also has built-in developer tools that allow users to inspect a website’s HTML and CSS, including the fonts used. To access the developer tools in Firefox, simply right-click on a page and select “Inspect Element.” https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Tools
  3. Apple Safari: Safari’s developer tools, which can be accessed by enabling the “Develop” menu in the browser’s preferences, also allow users to inspect a website’s HTML and CSS, including the fonts used. https://developer.apple.com/safari/tools/
  4. Microsoft Edge: Edge also has developer tools built-in that allow users to inspect a website’s HTML and CSS, including the fonts used. To access the developer tools in Edge, click on the three dots in the top right corner of the browser and select “Developer Tools.” https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/devtools-guide