New Typeface On Octopart

Recently, we changed the typeface on Octopart. The typeface on most of the website used to be Roboto, but after carefully comparing it with lots of different typefaces, we found that another typeface did a much better job communicating our part information: Lato. In particular, it’s much easier to read numbers in Lato.

I considered 708 fonts before choosing Lato, grading typefaces in lots of different categories. Primarily, the font had to look good as body text, had to have clear and easy to read numbers, and had to have a minimal impact on page load time.

[caption id="attachment_3249" align="alignnone" width="975"] Lato[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3250" align="alignnone" width="975"] Roboto[/caption]

Number tables are significantly easier to read in Lato due to its rounder, more even shape. Roboto is a taller, skinnier font that is harder to parse at a glance.

[caption id="attachment_3251" align="alignnone" width="550"] Lato[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3252" align="alignnone" width="550"] Roboto[/caption]

One of the biggest differences is in mixed number/letter situations. You should now find that I’s are much easier to distinguish from 1’s. We hope you find this update helpful, and we appreciate your feedback.