Every application contains text. Even if images and symbols dominate the layout, some sections of the app inevitably require text – at the very least in the terms and conditions section. And the use of a suitable font is crucial, especially for elements that determine the appearance of the user interface (menus, article titles, etc.) This makes the design of text an elementary part of the app layout.
When it comes to choosing the font for an application, you can refer easily to the system-specific typography of your chosen app platform. Since iOS 9 was released, this font has been ‘San Fransisco’ – previous iOS system fonts included ‘Helvetica’ and ‘Helvetica New’. Android has been using ‘Roboto’ since its version 4.0. Many app developers decide to stick to the standardized fonts used on the Android and iOS apps, and with good reason too: The font design is optimized for the operating system and saves valuable space on mobile display screens. The fonts are recognizable to users, too, making the flow between your app and the mobile system apps slicker and improving user trust in your app. System fonts can also be used straight away – other fonts require prior installation.
But there are benefits to choosing a different font to the iOS and Android system fonts – particularly if your app is full of text and you want to help that text stand out and differentiate your app from the competition. There are plenty of free fonts that are available for download online, but choosing the right one for your application usually comes down to the topic and content of your app. If the concept is quite artistic and classy, then an elegant font would make sense – but if it’s playful and cartoonish, then an eccentric, jazzy font might work better. But most importantly of all: If your app contains a lot of text, then the font should be readable and pleasant to look at. This is why standard fonts like ‘Open Sans’ or ‘Lato’ are popular – the characters are narrow and sans serifs, making them suitable for many different applications.