The Web Open Font Format (WOFF)

WOFF (the Web Open Font Format) is a web font format developed by Mozilla in concert with Type Supply, LettError, and other organizations. It uses a compressed version of the same table-based sfnt structure used by TrueType, OpenType, and Open Font Format, but adds metadata and private-use data structures, including predefined fields allowing foundries and vendors to provide license information if desired.

There are three main benefits to using WOFF:

  1. The font data is compressed, so sites using WOFF will use less bandwidth and will load faster than if they used equivalent uncompressed TrueType or OpenType files.
  2. Many font vendors that are unwilling to license their TrueType or OpenType format fonts for use on the web will license WOFF format fonts. This improves availability of fonts to site designers.
  3. Both proprietary and free software browser vendors like the WOFF format, so it has the potential of becoming a truly universal, interoperable font format for the web, unlike other current font formats.

There are two versions of WOFF; WOFF and WOFF2, they mostly differ in regard to the compression algorithm used. In @font-face they are identified by the 'woff' and respectively 'woff2' format descriptor.

Using WOFF

You can use the @font-face CSS property to use WOFF fonts for text in web content. It works exactly like OpenType and TrueType format fonts do, except it will likely let your content download more efficiently due to the addition of compression.

Tools for working with WOFF fonts

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
WOFF File Format 2.0 Recommendation New compression algorithm
WOFF File Format 1.0 Recommendation Initial specification.

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
@font-faceChrome Full support 1Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 3.5IE Full support 4Opera Full support 10Safari Full support 3.1WebView Android Full support ≤37Chrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 4Opera Android Full support 10.1Safari iOS Full support 2Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
SVG fonts
DeprecatedNon-standard
Chrome No support 1 — 38Edge No support NoFirefox No support NoIE No support NoOpera No support 15 — 25Safari Full support 3.2WebView Android No support ≤37 — 38Chrome Android No support 18 — 38Firefox Android No support NoOpera Android No support 14 — 25Safari iOS Full support 3Samsung Internet Android No support 1.0 — 3.0
WOFFChrome Full support 6Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 3.5IE Full support 9Opera Full support 11.1Safari Full support 5.1WebView Android Full support 4.4Chrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 4Opera Android Full support 11.1Safari iOS Full support 5Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
WOFF 2Chrome Full support 36Edge Full support 14Firefox Full support 39
Full support 39
Full support 35
Disabled
Disabled From version 35: this feature is behind the gfx.downloadable_fonts.woff2.enabled preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
IE No support NoOpera Full support 23Safari Full support 10
Notes
Full support 10
Notes
Notes Supported only on macOS 10.12 (Sierra) and later.
WebView Android Full support 37Chrome Android Full support 36Firefox Android Full support 39
Full support 39
Full support 35
Disabled
Disabled From version 35: this feature is behind the gfx.downloadable_fonts.woff2.enabled preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
Opera Android Full support 24Safari iOS Full support 10Samsung Internet Android Full support 3.0
font-displayChrome Full support 72Edge Full support 79Firefox Full support 58IE No support NoOpera Full support 60Safari Full support 11.1WebView Android Full support 72Chrome Android Full support 72Firefox Android Full support 58Opera Android Full support 51Safari iOS Full support 11.3Samsung Internet Android No support No
font-familyChrome Full support 4Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 3.5IE Full support 6Opera Full support 10Safari Full support 3.1WebView Android Full support 2.2Chrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 4Opera Android Full support 10.1Safari iOS Full support 3.1Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
font-feature-settingsChrome No support NoEdge No support NoFirefox Full support 34
Notes
Full support 34
Notes
Notes The ISO/IEC CD 14496-22 3rd edition suggests using the ssty feature to provide glyph variants more suitable for use in scripts (for example primes used as superscripts). Starting with Firefox 29, this is done automatically by the MathML rendering engine. The ISO/IEC CD 14496-22 3rd edition also suggests applying the dtls feature to letters when placing mathematical accents to get dotless forms (for example dotless i, j with a hat). Starting with Firefox 35, this is done automatically by the MathML rendering engine. You can override the default values determined by the MathML rendering engine with CSS.
Full support 15
Prefixed Notes
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -moz-
Notes From Firefox 4 to Firefox 14 (inclusive), Firefox supported an older, slightly different syntax. See OpenType Font Feature support in Firefox 4.
IE No support NoOpera No support NoSafari No support NoWebView Android No support NoChrome Android No support NoFirefox Android Full support 34
Notes
Full support 34
Notes
Notes The ISO/IEC CD 14496-22 3rd edition suggests using the ssty feature to provide glyph variants more suitable for use in scripts (for example primes used as superscripts). Starting with Firefox 29, this is done automatically by the MathML rendering engine. The ISO/IEC CD 14496-22 3rd edition also suggests applying the dtls feature to letters when placing mathematical accents to get dotless forms (for example dotless i, j with a hat). Starting with Firefox 35, this is done automatically by the MathML rendering engine. You can override the default values determined by the MathML rendering engine with CSS.
Full support 15
Prefixed Notes
Prefixed Implemented with the vendor prefix: -moz-
Notes From Firefox 4 to Firefox 14 (inclusive), Firefox supported an older, slightly different syntax. See OpenType Font Feature support in Firefox 4.
Opera Android No support NoSafari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android No support No
font-stretchChrome Full support 62Edge Full support 17Firefox Full support 62IE No support NoOpera Full support 49Safari Full support 10.1WebView Android Full support 62Chrome Android Full support 62Firefox Android Full support 62Opera Android Full support 41Safari iOS Full support 10.3Samsung Internet Android Full support 6.0
font-styleChrome Full support 4Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 3.5IE Full support 4Opera Full support 10Safari Full support 3.1WebView Android Full support ≤37Chrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 4Opera Android Full support 10.1Safari iOS Full support 2Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
font-variation-settingsChrome Full support 62Edge Full support 79Firefox Full support 60
Disabled
Full support 60
Disabled
Disabled From version 60: this feature is behind the layout.css.font-variations.enabled preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
IE No support NoOpera Full support 49Safari No support NoWebView Android Full support 62Chrome Android Full support 62Firefox Android Full support 60
Disabled
Full support 60
Disabled
Disabled From version 60: this feature is behind the layout.css.font-variations.enabled preference (needs to be set to true). To change preferences in Firefox, visit about:config.
Opera Android Full support 46Safari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android Full support 8.0
font-weightChrome Full support 4Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 3.5IE Full support 4Opera Full support 10Safari Full support 3.1WebView Android Full support ≤37Chrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 4Opera Android Full support 10.1Safari iOS Full support 2Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
srcChrome Full support 4Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 3.5IE Full support 6Opera Full support 10Safari Full support 3.1WebView Android Full support 2.2Chrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 4Opera Android Full support 10.1Safari iOS Full support 3.1Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
unicode-rangeChrome Full support 1Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 36IE Full support 9Opera Full support 15Safari Full support 3.2WebView Android Full support ≤37Chrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 36Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS Full support 3Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0

Legend

Full support
Full support
No support
No support
Non-standard. Expect poor cross-browser support.
Non-standard. Expect poor cross-browser support.
Deprecated. Not for use in new websites.
Deprecated. Not for use in new websites.
See implementation notes.
See implementation notes.
User must explicitly enable this feature.
User must explicitly enable this feature.
Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.
Requires a vendor prefix or different name for use.

See also