Font units are a crucial element of web design, and choosing the right font units can have a significant impact on web accessibility. In this blog post, we’ll explore the different font units available and provide some tips for choosing the most accessible font units for your website.
There are several font units available in CSS, including pixels (px), em, rem, and percentages (%). Here’s a brief overview of each unit and its potential impact on web accessibility:
- Pixels (px): Pixels are an absolute unit of measurement that define the font size in terms of the number of pixels. Pixels are not scalable and can cause problems for users with low vision who may need to increase the font size to read the content.
- Em: The em unit is a relative unit that is based on the font size of the parent element. Em can be more flexible than pixels, but it can also cause problems for users with low vision who may need to adjust the font size.
- Rem: The rem unit is a relative unit that is based on the root element (usually the HTML element). Rem units can be more flexible than em units and can help ensure consistent font sizes across the website.
- Percentages (%): Percentages are also a relative unit that is based on the font size of the parent element. Percentages can be useful for responsive design, but they can also cause problems for users who need to adjust the font size.
Here’s an example of how to use rem units for font sizes:
body {
font-size: 16px;
}
h1 {
font-size: 2rem;
}
p {
font-size: 1rem;
}
In the above example, we set the base font size for the website to 16px. We then use rem units to set the font size for the headings and paragraphs. The “2rem” font size for the headings is twice the base font size, while the “1rem” font size for the paragraphs is the same as the base font size.
Overall, choosing the right font units is essential for creating an accessible website that can be easily read and navigated by all users. By using relative units like rem and avoiding absolute units like pixels, web designers and developers can create flexible and accessible designs that accommodate users with different needs and preferences.

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