FOUT

Flash of Unstyled Text

A phenomenon related to web font loading that can impact user experience and page performance. Here’s a comprehensive look at FOUT and its implications for web developers and marketers:

• Definition: FOUT occurs when a browser displays text using a fallback font while waiting for a custom web font to load. Once the custom font is available, the text is re-rendered, potentially causing a visible shift in layout and appearance.
• User experience (UX) impact: Users may notice text changing styles as they begin reading, which can be distracting. However, Flash of Invisible Text (FOIT) is generally considered less jarring because the content is at least visible from the start.
• Performance considerations: While FOUT ensures content is immediately readable, it can contribute to Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) if the fallback and custom fonts have significantly different metrics.
• Causes: FOUT is often a deliberate browser behavior that balances immediate content visibility with the desired custom font appearance.
• Browser behavior: Different browsers handle font loading differently. Some may implement FOUT by default, while others prefer FOIT or have user-configurable settings.

FOUT Mitigation Strategies

Understanding FOUT helps in balancing brand identity (through custom fonts) with user experience and performance metrics, which can impact engagement and conversions. While FOUT isn’t a Core Web Vital (CWV), its handling can impact metrics like Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) and Largest Contentful Paint (LCP).

• Use font-display: swap in CSS to explicitly allow FOUT.
• Choose fallback fonts that closely match the metrics of your custom fonts.
• Preload critical fonts to reduce the duration of FOUT.
• Implement progressive font enrichment techniques.
• Use variable fonts for more flexible and performant typography.

For developers and marketers, managing FOUT effectively creates a robust, user-friendly web experience. It requires balancing immediate content accessibility with visual design goals. By implementing thoughtful font loading strategies, you can maintain your brand’s typography while minimizing disruptions to the user experience and optimizing for performance metrics.

As web performance continues to be a crucial factor in user experience and SEO, understanding and effectively managing phenomena like FOUT becomes increasingly important in digital marketing.

• Abbreviation: FOUT