Typeface vs. Font: The Music Analogy
The easiest way to understand the difference is to think about music:
- The Typeface is the song itself (the melody, the lyrics, the creative idea).
- The Font is the MP3 file (the actual digital file you use to play the music).
In design terms:
- Typeface: The specific design or look of the letters (what you see).
- Font: The computer file or mechanism that contains the letters (what you use).
In Practice
You choose a Typeface, but you install a Font.
Examples
1. Helvetica
- Typeface: "Helvetica" (The entire family of letters).
- Font:
Helvetica-Bold.otf(The specific file for the bold version).
2. Times New Roman
- Typeface: "Times New Roman" (The creative design).
- Font:
Times New Roman, Italic, 12 point(The specific variation you are using on the page).
Summary
If you are talking to a designer about the look, you are talking about a Typeface. If you are talking to a developer about the file or the bold setting, you are talking about a Font.