What is a TTF file?
TTF is the ordinary font file you install on a computer, and it works the same on Windows, Mac and Linux. Most typefaces are supplied this way, and it is what you convert from when you want to use a font on a website. You can convert TTF files here, both into the format and out of it.
Specification
| Full name | TrueType Font |
|---|---|
| Extensions | .ttf |
| Media type | font/ttf |
| Compression | Uncompressed |
| Transparency | — |
| Animation | — |
| Multiple pages | — |
| Colour depth | Quadratic outlines with TrueType hinting bytecode |
| Size limits | 65535 glyphs per font |
| Introduced | 1991 |
| Developed by | Apple and Microsoft |
| Standard | Open |
| Browser support | Every browser, including older ones |
What TTF is used for
- System and desktop fonts installed on Windows, macOS and Linux
- Print and design work in Adobe and Affinity applications
- Source masters from which web font formats are generated
- Embedded devices and game engines that draw the letters themselves
Strengths and limitations
What TTF does well
- Installs and renders on every operating system without conversion
- Tuned by hand to stay legible at small sizes
- Accepted by essentially all design and publishing software
Where TTF falls short
- Uncompressed, so files are several times the size of the same font as WOFF2
- Lacks the advanced typographic features OTF carries
- Serving it directly to browsers wastes bandwidth on every page load
Convert TTF to
Every target this format can be written out as, each on its own page.
Convert to TTF
Everything that can be turned into a TTF file.
Questions about TTF
What is a .ttf file?
TTF is the ordinary font file you install on a computer, and it works the same on Windows, Mac and Linux. The extension .ttf identifies it, and its media type is font/ttf.
How do I open a TTF file?
Any current browser will open it directly, so dragging the file into a tab is usually enough. Most operating systems also preview it without extra software.
Is TTF lossy or lossless?
Uncompressed. Nothing is discarded, so repeated saves never degrade the contents.
What is TTF good for?
Installs and renders on every operating system without conversion. Tuned by hand to stay legible at small sizes. Accepted by essentially all design and publishing software. In practice that makes it a good fit for system and desktop fonts installed on Windows, macOS and Linux, and Print and design work in Adobe and Affinity applications.
What are the drawbacks of TTF?
Uncompressed, so files are several times the size of the same font as WOFF2. Lacks the advanced typographic features OTF carries. Serving it directly to browsers wastes bandwidth on every page load.