Changing Fonts and Text Size
Changing Fonts and Text Size in WYSIWYG Editor
Learn how WYSIWYG editors make it easy to select fonts, adjust text size, and create attractive and readable webpage content.
What Are Fonts and Text Size?
Fonts determine the visual appearance of text on a webpage, while text size controls how large or small the characters appear. In a WYSIWYG editor, these formatting options are usually available directly from the toolbar, allowing users to format content without manually writing HTML and CSS.
WYSIWYG stands for What You See Is What You Get. If you are new to WYSIWYG editing, you can learn more from the WYSIWYG HTML Editor guide .
Changing Fonts in a WYSIWYG Editor
Most WYSIWYG editors provide a font selection menu in the formatting toolbar. After selecting text, the user can choose a different font from the available list.
Typical Steps
- Select the text that you want to change.
- Open the font or typeface menu.
- Choose the desired font.
- Review the appearance of the selected text.
- Continue editing or save the webpage.
Font Examples
Changing Text Size
Text size is another common formatting feature in WYSIWYG editors. The toolbar may provide a size menu containing options such as small, normal, large, or specific font sizes.
To change the size, select the required text and choose an appropriate size from the editor’s text-size control.
Text Size Examples
This is an example of smaller text.
This is an example of medium-sized text.
This is an example of larger text.
Fonts and Text Size Together
Font selection and text size can be combined to create a clear visual hierarchy. For example, a webpage title can use a larger font size, while supporting paragraphs can use a smaller and comfortable reading size.
| Content Type | Typical Formatting | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Main Heading | Large and prominent | Introduces the main topic |
| Subheading | Medium to large | Separates sections |
| Paragraph | Comfortable reading size | Presents detailed information |
| Caption | Smaller size | Provides supporting information |
Why Font Selection Matters
Font selection can affect readability, appearance, and the overall visual style of a webpage. A suitable font should be easy to read and appropriate for the subject and audience.
- Use readable fonts for normal paragraphs.
- Use larger text for important headings.
- Maintain consistency throughout the webpage.
- Avoid using too many different fonts.
- Use text size to create a clear information hierarchy.
How WYSIWYG Editors Apply Formatting
When a user changes a font or text size through a WYSIWYG toolbar, the editor generally converts the visual formatting action into HTML and CSS markup. The user does not necessarily need to type those formatting instructions manually.
For example, a text-size setting may eventually be represented using CSS such as:
font-size: 24px;
Similarly, a font choice can be represented with CSS using the
font-family property.
Best Practices for Changing Fonts and Text Size
- Keep fonts consistent: Use a limited number of fonts across a webpage.
- Prioritize readability: Choose text sizes that are comfortable to read.
- Create hierarchy: Make headings visually different from normal paragraphs.
- Avoid excessive formatting: Too many font styles and sizes can make a page look confusing.
- Preview your content: Check how the formatted text appears before publishing.
Conclusion
Changing fonts and text size in a WYSIWYG editor is a simple way to improve the appearance and readability of webpage content. By selecting text and using the editor’s formatting toolbar, beginners can change typefaces and text sizes without manually creating every formatting instruction in HTML and CSS.
For a broader introduction to WYSIWYG webpage creation, visit the WYSIWYG HTML Editor article on The Science Online.
