Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 7, 2026

Hoefler Text

Hoefler Text is an old-style serif font designed by Jonathan Hoefler and released by Apple Computer Inc. in 1991 to showcase advanced type technologies. Intended as a versatile font suitable for body text, it takes cues from a range of classic fonts, such as Janson and Garamond No. 3.

Last revised
Jun 7, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
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571 w
Citations
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Source
Wikipedia ↗
Hoefler Text
CategorySerif
ClassificationOld-style
DesignerJonathan Hoefler
FoundryApple Computer
Date released1991
Re-issuing foundriesHoefler & Co.

Hoefler Text is an old-style serif font designed by Jonathan Hoefler and released by Apple Computer Inc. (now Apple Inc.) in 1991 to showcase advanced type technologies.1 Intended as a versatile font suitable for body text, it takes cues from a range of classic fonts, such as Janson and Garamond No. 3.23

A version of Hoefler Text has been included with every version of the classic Mac OS since System 7.5 and in every version of macOS. Hoefler's company, Hoefler & Co., has continued development of the typeface, developing a range of additional variants for sale.4

Released free with every Mac during the growth of desktop publishing, at a time when producing printed documents was becoming dramatically easier, Hoefler Text raised awareness of type features previously the concern only of professional printers.567 In 2014, New York magazine commented that Hoefler Text "helped launch a thousand font obsessives."8 Hoefler Text was used in the Wikipedia logo until the 2010 redesign, when it was replaced with Linux Libertine.9

Features

Hoefler Text incorporates then-advanced features which have since become standard practice for font designers, such as automatic ligature insertion, real small capitals, optional old style figures and optional insertion of characters such as true superscript and subscript characters, the historical round and long s, engraved capitals and swashes. Hoefler Text also has a matching ornament font containing arabesque motifs.10 It was, until OpenType made alternate characters more common, one of only a few system fonts that contained old style, or ranging, figures, which are designed to harmonize with body text.

Hoefler & Co. expanded Hoefler Text to include additional typographic features. The current commercial release now includes three weights (an additional bold weight beside the regular and black included with Macs) and two sets of engraved capitals, as well as the more slender display variant Hoefler Titling.112 These are released in the OpenType format, intended for cross-platform usage.

The design is based on the typefaces Janson and Garamond No. 3, both of whose historical names are misattributions; the designs were created by punchcutters Miklós Tótfalusi Kis and Jean Jannon, respectively.2

  • Hoefler Text features in the version bundled with Macs. The commercial release includes an additional bold weight (less bold than that shown) and a second, lighter design of engraved capitals.
    Hoefler Text features in the version bundled with Macs. The commercial release includes an additional bold weight (less bold than that shown) and a second, lighter design of engraved capitals.
  • Contextual and selectable ligatures in Hoefler Text, highlighted in red
    Contextual and selectable ligatures in Hoefler Text, highlighted in red
See also

See also

References

References

  1. Heller, Steven. "Jonathan Hoefler on type design". Design Dialogues. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  2. "Hoefler Titling". Hoefler & Frere-Jones. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  3. "If the face fits". Eye Magazine. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  4. Hoefler Text | Hoefler & Frere-Jones. Retrieved November 18, 2009.
  5. Berry, John D. (7 July 2000). "A Rare Font Specimen". Creative Pro. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  6. Shaw, Paul. "The Digital Past: When Typefaces Were Experimental". AIGA. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  7. Stephen Eskilson (28 February 2012). Graphic Design: New History 2nd Edition. Yale University Press. p. 417. ISBN 978-0-300-17260-7.
  8. Fagone, Jason (2 June 2014). "A Type House Divided". New York magazine. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  9. Wikipedia logos
  10. Hoefler, Jonathan. "Ornaments and Arabesques". Hoefler & Frere-Jones. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  11. Strizver, Ilene (21 June 2017). "All About Titling Fonts". Creative Pro. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
External links