Optimizing Webfonts (google font)

HTML & CSS
1

So I’m in the last stages of completing a site perf audit and I keep being told by both Speed Insights & Yslow that I can compress a Google Web Font.

?

I know I might be able to squeeze the essentials out of the font, like not using the entire character set - but decided not to list the actual letters I need (seeing that I’m using some FRA characters as well), but I still don’t believe I’d be able to compress the Google font. Or am I the one who’s out to a savoury lunch?? Telling me I could get an additional 18% savings - I’d be saving some tax!

Either way, I know it’s an http request - and i’m totally ready to live with it - but the compression escapes me…

Thx for all replies.

2

Here’s an article on subsetting your Google fonts: http://www.sitepoint.com/joy-of-subsets-web-fonts/

I’d say it’s not worth it for general text. I’d only do it if I needed only a small number of specific characters from the font.

3

Thx for that. I guess I didn’t have the correct term nailed, but I did have subsetting in mind when posting this. I wonder if this is what they mean by compressing?

Good link for all not familiar with it. I believe that the entire Arial Unicode MS Regular character set comes in around 22MB. So using just the ones (and languages) you need is a nice way to lighten the load.

4

I would say so. Presumably Google assets are as compressed as possible already. So the issue would be downloading more of those assets than you actually need—I would think, anyway.

5

I’ll prob give it a shot and see. Will report back.