How Can Preloading Fonts Eliminate the Flash of Inconsistent Text (FOIT)?

Optimized Web Font Rendering: Delaying Page Rendering to Mitigate Flash of Inconsistent Text (FOIT)

In web design, the "Flash of Inconsistent Text" (FOIT) occurs when fallback system fonts are initially displayed before the intended custom fonts load. This results in a momentary visual glitch that can compromise user experience. To address this issue, we explore a solution that delays page rendering until font resources are fully loaded.

The Preload Technique

Modern browsers support a resource preloading mechanism known as "preload." By using the element with the "preload" attribute, we instruct the browser to load a resource (in this case, a font file) before the rest of the page begins rendering.

Implementation Example

To preload a font file, add the following code to the section of your HTML document:

<link 
  rel="preload" 
  href="assets/fonts/xxx.woff" 
  as="font" 
  type="font/woff" 
  crossorigin 
/>

Additional Resources

For further insights and technical details, refer to the following resources:

• [Can I Use: link-rel-preload](https://caniuse.com/#feat=link-rel-preload)
• [Documentation for rel=preload - MDN](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Headers/Link/rel=preload)
• [Preload Hints For Web Fonts - Bram Stein](https://alistapart.com/article/preload-hints-for-web-fonts)

Benefits of Preloading Fonts

By preloading fonts, you can significantly reduce the FOIT effect and deliver a smoother, more visually appealing user experience. This technique is particularly beneficial for websites that heavily rely on custom typography to convey their brand identity and message.

The above is the detailed content of How Can Preloading Fonts Eliminate the Flash of Inconsistent Text (FOIT)?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!