Self Hosted Fonts
Self hosted fonts refer to the practice of storing and serving font files directly from a website's own server or hosting environment, rather than relying on external services like Google Fonts or Adobe Fonts. This involves downloading font files (e.g., in formats like WOFF, WOFF2, TTF, or OTF) and linking to them via CSS @font-face rules. It gives developers full control over font delivery, performance, and privacy.
Developers should use self hosted fonts when they need to ensure website performance by reducing external dependencies, comply with privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR) by avoiding third-party tracking, or use custom or proprietary fonts not available on public CDNs. It's particularly useful for high-traffic sites, brand-specific designs, or projects in regions with restricted internet access.