# FontColle

> FontColle is an enhanced Google Fonts Collection that filters by what type actually does: OpenType features, variable axes, weight and width steps, writing systems, and color vs. monochrome. Save the ones you like.

FontColle is a web app for browsing and comparing 1,942 open-source Google Fonts families. Every family carries harvested font-binary data (axes, features, metrics) plus Google's own classification scores, so questions like "a playful variable sans" or "a high-contrast serif that supports Devanagari" are answerable from the data alone.

## Data

- [Slim catalog](https://fontcolle.com/catalog-slim.json) (~2 MB): **start here.** A JSON array of every published family, projected to the fields queries actually filter and rank on. Fits in a large context window.
- [Full catalog](https://fontcolle.com/catalog.json) (~13 MB): the complete `FontRecord[]`, adding per-axis ranges, named instances, per-family language lists, and about/version prose. Use only when the slim catalog lacks a field you need.
- [Per-font record](https://fontcolle.com/catalog/<id>.json): one full `FontRecord`, e.g. `/catalog/roboto_slab.json`. Here `<id>` is the lowercased family name with spaces removed.
- [Designer index](https://fontcolle.com/designer-index.json): `{id, name, designer}[]`, for grouping families by designer.
- [Sitemap](https://fontcolle.com/sitemap.xml): one canonical URL per font family.

No authentication, no rate limit.

## Answering a style question

The `tags` object is what makes subjective queries answerable. Worked example, **"a variable sans that feels joyful"**:

```js
const fonts = await (await fetch("https://fontcolle.com/catalog-slim.json")).json();
fonts
  .filter(f => f.isVariable && f.class === "Sans")
  .map(f => ({ f, score: (f.tags["/Expressive/Happy"] ?? 0) + (f.tags["/Expressive/Playful"] ?? 0) }))
  .sort((a, b) => b.score - a.score)
  .slice(0, 10);
```

Then link the user to `https://fontcolle.com/instances/<Family_Name>` for each result, and to the equivalent filtered list (see "Linking to a filtered list").

## Slim catalog fields

| Field | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| `id` | string | Catalog slug, lowercased, spaces removed |
| `name` | string | Family name as Google publishes it |
| `designer` | string \| null | May list several designers, comma-separated |
| `class` | string | `Display` `Emoji` `Graphics` `Mono` `Sans` `Script` `Serif` `Slab` |
| `license` | string | `APACHE2` \| `OFL` \| `UFL` |
| `isVariable` | boolean | True when the family ships a variable font |
| `isMonospace` | boolean | From the post table's `isFixedPitch` |
| `isNoto` | boolean | Part of the Noto superfamily |
| `weights` | number[] | Standard weight steps present: 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900 |
| `widthClass` | number | OS/2 usWidthClass, 1 (narrowest) – 7 |
| `unitsPerEm` | number | Em size; needed to turn the raw metrics below into ratios |
| `axes` | string[] | Variable axis tags. Registered: `wght` `wdth` `opsz` `slnt` `ital` `GRAD`. Plus 43 custom axes (`ARRR` `BLED` `BNCE` `CASL`, …) |
| `features` | string[] | OpenType feature tags, e.g. `liga` `smcp` `ss01`. 272 distinct across the catalog |
| `facets` | string[] | Plain-language derived tags, see below |
| `subsets` | string[] | Google Fonts subsets, e.g. `latin` `latin-ext` `cyrillic` |
| `scripts` | string[] | ISO 15924 codes with real cmap coverage. More precise than `subsets` |
| `colorTables` | string[] | Color tables present: `COLR` `CPAL` `SVG`. Empty means monochrome |
| `glyphCount` | number | Glyphs in the primary font file |
| `fileSize` | number | Bytes of the primary font file |
| `contrast` | number \| null | Thick/thin stroke ratio at regular weight. ~1.0 is monolinear; 4+ is a high-contrast Didone |
| `xHeight` `capHeight` `avgCharWidth` | number | Raw font units. Divide by `unitsPerEm` for the comparable ratio |
| `popularityRank` `trendingRank` | number \| null | 1 = most popular / most trending. `null` = unranked |
| `dateAdded` | string | ISO date the family joined Google Fonts |
| `repositoryUrl` | string \| null | Upstream source repo |
| `vendorId` | string | OS/2 achVendID, the foundry code |
| `tags` | object | Classification scores, see below |

### `tags` — classification scores (the style vocabulary)

Google's own classification of each family, as `{"/Section/Subtag": score}` where **score is 0–100**. An absent key means 0. The site's UI treats **>= 50** as "this font is that thing"; for ranking, use the raw scores. 1,932 of 1,942 families are scored.

- **Expressive**: `Active` `Artistic` `Awkward` `Business` `Calm` `Childlike` `Competent` `Cute` `Excited` `Fancy` `Futuristic` `Happy` `Innovative` `Loud` `Playful` `Rugged` `Sincere` `Sophisticated` `Stiff` `Vintage`
- **Monospace**: `Monospace`
- **Purpose**: `Easy Reading` `Learn To Write`
- **Quality**: `Concept` `Drawing` `Spacing` `Wordspace`
- **Sans**: `Geometric` `Glyphic` `Grotesque` `Humanist` `Neo Grotesque` `Rounded` `Superellipse`
- **Script**: `Formal` `Handwritten` `Informal` `Upright Script`
- **Seasonal**: `Christmas` `Diwali` `Halloween` `Hanukkah` `Holi` `Kwanzaa` `Lunar New Year` `Valentine's Day`
- **Serif**: `Didone` `Fat Face` `Humanist Venetian` `Modern` `Old Style Garalde` `Scotch` `Transitional`
- **Slab**: `Clarendon` `Geometric` `Humanist`
- **Special use**: `Barcode` `Redaction` `Symbols`
- **Theme**: `Art Deco` `Art Nouveau` `Blackletter` `Blobby` `Brush` `Distressed` `Inline` `Medieval` `Pixel` `Shaded` `Stencil` `Techno` `Tuscan` `Wacky` `Woodtype`

The **Expressive** section is the one subjective queries want. Mapping plain words to tags: *joyful / fun* → `Happy` + `Playful`; *serious / corporate* → `Business` + `Competent`; *elegant / luxury* → `Sophisticated` + `Fancy`; *retro* → `Vintage`; *kids* → `Childlike` + `Cute`; *sci-fi* → `Futuristic` + `Techno`. **Quality** scores are craft ratings, not style.

### `facets` — derived plain-language tags

Boolean membership tags derived from axes, features, and subsets:

`arabic` `case-sensitive` `cjk` `cyrillic` `devanagari` `discretionary-ligatures` `fractions` `grade-axis` `greek` `has-italic` `hebrew` `historical-ligatures` `latin` `ligatures` `oldstyle-figures` `optical-size-axis` `slant-axis` `slashed-zero` `small-caps` `static` `stylistic-alternates` `tabular-figures` `thai` `titling` `variable` `weight-axis` `width-axis`

## Every filterable dimension

The site's own filter UI exposes exactly these, and all are computable from the slim catalog.

| Dimension | Values | Combine |
|---|---|---|
| Text query | matches family name and designer | — |
| Class | `Display` `Emoji` `Graphics` `Mono` `Sans` `Script` `Serif` `Slab` | OR |
| Facet | the `facets` list above | AND |
| OpenType feature | any of 272 tags (`liga` `smcp` `ss01` `zero`, …) | AND |
| Variable axis | `wght` `wdth` `opsz` `slnt` `ital` `GRAD` + 43 custom | AND |
| Weight | 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 | OR |
| Width | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 (usWidthClass) | OR |
| Writing system | 45 ISO 15924 codes: `Adlm` `Arab` `Armn` `Bali` `Batk` `Beng` `Cakm` `Cher` `Cyrl` `Deva` `Ethi` `Geor` `Grek` `Gujr` `Guru` `Hano` `Hans` `Hant` `Hebr` `Java` `Jpan` `Khmr` `Knda` `Kore` `Laoo` `Latn` `Mlym` `Mymr` `Nand` `Olck` `Orya` `Sinh` `Sund` `Sunu` `Syrc` `Taml` `Telu` `Tfng` `Thaa` `Thai` `Tibt` `Tnsa` `Toto` `Vaii` `Yiii` | AND |
| Language | ~2,000 ids like `en_Latn`, `zh_Hant` (full catalog's per-family `languages`) | AND |
| Color | `color` \| `monochrome` | radio |
| Color format | `COLR` `CPAL` `SVG` | AND |
| Classification | any `/Section/Subtag` path above; matches when score >= 50 | OR |
| Designer | any name in `designer` | OR |
| Vendor | `vendorId` foundry codes | OR |
| License | `APACHE2` `OFL` `UFL` | OR |
| Repository host | `github` `gitlab` `sourcehut` `none` | OR |
| Activity | `latest` (≤6m) `active` (≤1y) `recent` (≤3y) `dormant` (3y+), from last update | radio |
| Source | `noto` \| `others` | radio |
| Italic | `italic` \| `upright` | radio |
| Units per em | `1000` `2048` and ~35 other values | OR |
| Hinting | hinted \| unhinted | radio |
| x-height ratio | 0.10–0.90 (`xHeight / unitsPerEm`) | range |
| Cap-height ratio | 0.20–1.10 (`capHeight / unitsPerEm`) | range |
| Line-height ratio | 0.90–2.50 (ascender − descender + gap, over em) | range |
| Avg width ratio | 0.20–1.20 (`avgCharWidth / unitsPerEm`) | range |
| Contrast | 1.0–8.5 (`contrast`) | range |
| File size | 16 KB – 64 MB (`fileSize`) | range |

Sort keys: `popularity` (default) `trending` `name-asc` `name-desc` `creator-asc` `creator-desc` `date-newest` `date-oldest` `glyphs-most` `glyphs-fewest` `axes-most` `axes-fewest`.

## Linking to a filtered list

Filters live in the URL of `https://fontcolle.com/`, so a query can be handed back to the user as a link. List params join with `_`; `lang` and `dsr` join with `,`.

| Param | Dimension | Example |
|---|---|---|
| `q` | text query | `q=roboto` |
| `class` | class | `class=Sans_Serif` |
| `facet` | facets | `facet=variable_small-caps` |
| `feature` | features | `feature=liga_zero` |
| `axis` | axes | `axis=wght_opsz` |
| `weight` `width` | weight / width steps | `weight=700_900` |
| `script` | writing systems | `script=Latn_Grek` |
| `lang` | languages | `lang=en_Latn,ja_Jpan` |
| `color` `cfmt` | color / color formats | `color=color`, `cfmt=COLR` |
| `cls` | classification paths, `/` written as `.` | `cls=Expressive.Playful_Sans.Rounded` |
| `dsr` `vnd` `lic` | designer / vendor / license | `lic=OFL` |
| `repo` `act` `flag` `ital` `upm` `hint` | repo host / activity / source / italic / upm / hinting | `act=latest`, `ital=upright`, `hint=1` |
| `mxh` `mch` `mlh` `maw` `mct` `mfs` | metric ranges, `lo-hi` | `mxh=0.45-0.55`, `mct=3-8.5` |
| `sort` | sort key | `sort=trending` |

So the worked example above links to:
`https://fontcolle.com/?class=Sans&facet=variable&cls=Expressive.Playful_Expressive.Happy`

## Per-font pages

Each family has a canonical instances page at `https://fontcolle.com/instances/<name>`, where `<name>` is the family name with spaces replaced by underscores, original casing kept (e.g. `https://fontcolle.com/instances/Roboto_Slab`). Note this differs from the catalog `id`, which is lowercased with spaces removed.

## Notes

- This site hosts no font files. All downloads redirect to Google Fonts; FontColle is a discovery and comparison layer over the Google Fonts catalog.
- Every family is open-source and free for commercial use, under APACHE2, OFL, UFL.
- Data is regenerated from the upstream Google Fonts repo and the font binaries themselves.