Metrically Compatible Fonts
What is Metrically Compatible Fonts
Metrically Compatible Fonts are fonts that have the same cap height, x-height, ascender height, descender height. That means, you can change the font on a web page without changing font size and the layout and effective font size remains the same.
〔see Meaning of Font Size〕
They are usually automatically substituted by the operating system if one of these is not available.
Metrically Compatible Fonts are created mostly as clones to avoid copyright.
Arial compatible (sans-serif)
Helvetica- Year 1957. On Mac since 1980s.
Arial- Year 1992. Microsoft clone, since Windows 3.1.
Liberation Sans- 2007. Linux.
Arimo- Google, ~2013
Calibri compatible (sans-serif)
Calibri- 2007. Sans-serif. Arial sequel. Replaced Arial as the default in PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, WordPad. Replaced Times New Roman in Microsoft Office.
Carlito- Google. 2013
Times New Roman compatible (serif)
Times New Roman- Year 1932. On Mac/Windows since 1990s.
Liberation Serif- Linux. 2007
Tinos- Google. 2013
Cambria compatible (serif)
Cambria- Serif. Microsoft Windows and Office, 2007.
Caladea- Google. 2013
Consolas compatible (monospace)
Consolas- Year 2007. Monospace. Microsoft's replacement for Courier New.
Inconsolata- Year 2006. Monospace. Linux.
Courier New compatible (monospace)
Courier New- 1970s
Liberation Mono- Linux. 2007
Cousine- Google, 2013
DejaVu Sans Mono compatible (monospace)
Bitstream Vera Sans Mono- Year 2001. Monospace. Open source.
Menlo- Year created: 2009. Monospace. Based on open source DejaVu Sans Mono.
DejaVu Sans Mono- Year created: 2004. Monospace. Based on open source DejaVu Sans Mono.