Applying a single font to an entire website with CSS

Comprehensive font choice

Deciding on a font matters. Opt for common or system fonts like Arial, Verdana, or Times New Roman for maximum compatibility and universal readability.

Alternative to body selector

For edge cases, use * or :not() selectors. These should not be overused as they might cause performance issues. Here's an example:

/* When you feel rebellious! Ignoring .icon class */
*:not(.icon) {
  font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif;
}


In this case, all elements except the .icon class inherit Arial.

Performance considerations

Though the * selector might appear as a one-shot solution, it impacts performance and code maintainability. You're better off sticking to body inheritance as it makes your code cleaner.

Visualising your styles

Imagine seamlessly applying a font across all elements:

Before CSS font rule:
🅰️🅱️🆎🅰️🅾️        // Before: It's a font jumble!
🅰️🆎🅾️🅱️🅾️
🅾️🅱️🅰️🅾️🅱️

Upon applying a universal font:

body {
  /* Suit up, troops! */
  font-family: 'Uniform Sans', sans-serif;
}
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After CSS font rule:
🚹🚹🚹🚹🚹        // After: Uniformity achieved!
🚹🚹🚹🚹🚹
🚹🚹🚹🚹🚹

One command, font-family ensures uniformity across the site.

Tackling overrides and inheritance

Most elements inherit styles from the body tag. However, some, like buttons and inputs own some default styles which may override your settings. You have to explicitly list those overrides.

Incorporating custom and external fonts

@font-face allows the use of custom fonts to make your brand unique. Remember to check the font licenses and their browser compatibility. Google Fonts is your best bet for reliability and legal clarity.

@font-face {
  /* MyCustomFont: I dare to be different! */
  font-family: 'MyCustomFont';
  src: url('path/to/font.woff2') format('woff2');
}

body {
  /* Fallback included for that "just in case" moment. */
  font-family: 'MyCustomFont', 'Fallback', sans-serif;
}


Handling exceptional cases

For elements like icons which should not inherit the global font, use :not() or add class-specific rules. This preserves the functional design of those elements.

/* FontAwesome and Material Icons: The dynamic duo */
.icon {
  font-family: 'FontAwesome', 'Material Icons', sans-serif;
}


Cross compatibility considerations

Testing your website on different browsers and devices is crucial to guarantee cohesive font rendering. Use BrowserStack or Can I use for this purpose.

Code documentation

Documenting your universal font style strategy within your CSS enhances readability. It aids future developers in understanding the structure and rationale behind the code.

Design and accessibility factors

Ensure the font choice does not affect the accessibility or user experience. The aim should be legibility in keeping with the aesthetics of your website.