Self-hosting fonts is an excellent approach to enhance your website’s loading performance, privacy, and reliability. In this blog, we’ll guide you through how to leverage Fontsource, an open-source monorepo of self-hostable fonts, and ensure that your web pages look impeccable without the drawbacks of using a CDN.

Why Self-Host Fonts?

Have you ever noticed that sometimes, when you visit a website, it takes a bit longer to load due to fonts? It’s like waiting in line at your favorite coffee shop when someone ahead of you has a complicated order. Let’s look at some key reasons why you should consider self-hosting your fonts:

• Performance Improvement: Self-hosting can eliminate the latency that comes with additional DNS and TCP connection overhead when using a CDN, resulting in faster load times.
• Version Control: When self-hosting, your fonts remain version-locked—no unexpected updates can catch you off guard, unlike with Google Fonts.
• Privacy Focused: By not relying on third-party services, you can significantly boost user privacy.
• Offline Accessibility: Your fonts will still load when there’s no internet connection, which is great for Progressive Web Apps (PWAs).
• Expanded Font Library: Support fonts beyond the Google ecosystem, continually evolving with new contributors.

How to Get Started with Fontsource

Now that you’re convinced of the benefits, let’s dive into the steps for getting started.

Step 1: Install Fontsource

To use Fontsource, you need to install it via npm. Run the following command in your terminal:

npm install @fontsource/fontname

Replace `fontname` with the name of the specific font you want to use.

Step 2: Import the Font in Your CSS

After you’ve installed the font, you can import it into your CSS file:

import "@fontsource/fontname";

Step 3: Use the Font in Your Styles

Now that it’s imported, you can utilize the font in your CSS declarations like so:

body {
    font-family: "Font Name", sans-serif;
}

Understanding the Technicalities: The Analogy

Imagine if your website is a theater, and the fonts are the actors. If you hire actors from a distant place (like a CDN), they need time to travel to the stage (load). But if you have these actors (fonts) already waiting backstage (self-hosted), they can jump on stage as soon as the curtain rises, giving the audience (users) the performance (website experience) immediately. This is the essence of self-hosting your fonts!

Troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues while working with Fontsource, consider the following troubleshooting tips:

• Check Your Install: Ensure you have installed the correct font and there are no typos in your import statements.
• Version Conflicts: Verify if there are other fonts causing conflicts or overrides in your CSS.
• Browser Compatibility: Confirm that you are using a compatible browser that supports the font formats.
• Console Errors: Utilize your browser’s developer console (F12) to look for any loading errors related to font files.

For more insights, updates, or to collaborate on AI development projects, stay connected with fxis.ai.

Conclusion

By self-hosting your fonts with Fontsource, you’re ensuring a faster, more customizable, and privacy-friendly experience for your users. At fxis.ai, we believe that such advancements are crucial for the future of AI, as they enable more comprehensive and effective solutions. Our team is continually exploring new methodologies to push the envelope in artificial intelligence, ensuring that our clients benefit from the latest technological innovations.