WOFF vs DFONT: Complete Format Comparison
Comprehensive comparison of WOFF and DFONT formats covering web delivery versus desktop installation, cross-platform web standard versus macOS-only legacy format, and optimal usage scenarios
In Simple Terms
DFONT is macOS-only legacy format with zero web support. WOFF is web font standard with 99%+ browser coverage across all platforms.Use WOFF for websites (compressed, universal). Convert DFONT to TTF for cross-platform desktop use. DFONT only works on macOS.Modern workflow: DFONT → TTF (desktop cross-platform) → WOFF2 (web). Use WOFF2 (not WOFF) as primary web format for best compression.
In this article
WOFF (Web Open Font Format) and DFONT (Data Fork Font) serve completely different purposes in the typography ecosystem, with WOFF being the universal web font delivery standard and DFONT being a macOS-specific desktop font container from Apple's OS X transition era. WOFF, created collaboratively by Mozilla, Opera, and Microsoft in 2009 and standardized by W3C in 2012, uses zlib compression to deliver OpenType/TrueType fonts over the web, reducing file sizes by 40-50% for optimal network transfer across all browsers and platforms. DFONT, created by Apple in 2001 during Mac OS X's transition, is a data fork container that stores TrueType font data in a Unix-compatible format (moving data from resource forks to data forks), working only on macOS and never intended for web use.
The fundamental distinction is purpose and platform: WOFF is for web delivery (websites, web apps) with universal browser support, while DFONT is for macOS desktop installation with zero web compatibility. WOFF achieves 99%+ browser coverage across Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, making fonts available to billions of users. DFONT works exclusively on macOS—Windows, Linux, browsers, and mobile platforms cannot read DFONT files. Both formats can contain identical TrueType font data with the same glyphs, metrics, and features; the difference is packaging and deployment context. Modern macOS fully supports standard OTF/TTF files, making DFONT a legacy format maintained primarily for backward compatibility with old Mac software.
This comprehensive guide compares WOFF and DFONT to clarify their distinct roles and when each applies. You'll learn the technical specifications showing WOFF's web optimization versus DFONT's desktop structure, use cases demonstrating WOFF for web deployment and DFONT for legacy Mac systems, platform compatibility showing WOFF's universality versus DFONT's Mac-only limitation, workflow guidance for converting between desktop and web fonts, and recommendations for modern font management. Whether building websites or managing Mac font libraries, this guide provides essential knowledge about these formats' complementary but non-overlapping purposes.
Format Overview
WOFF (Web Open Font Format)
History and Purpose:
- • Created by Mozilla, Opera, Microsoft (2009)
- • W3C Recommendation (2012)
- • Designed specifically for web font delivery
- • Universal web standard since 2013
- • Used on billions of websites globally
Technical Characteristics:
- • Compressed with zlib (40-50% reduction)
- • Wraps OpenType/TrueType data
- • Optimized for HTTP transfer
- • Metadata for licensing/vendor info
- • Extension: .woff
Current Status (2025):
- • Universal browser support (99%+)
- • Active web font standard
- • File size: ~90 KB (typical Latin font)
- • Use case: Web delivery exclusively
DFONT (Data Fork Font)
History and Purpose:
- • Created by Apple (2001) for Mac OS X
- • Transitional format from Classic Mac OS
- • Moved TrueType data from resource fork to data fork
- • Designed for desktop installation only
- • Legacy format in modern macOS
Technical Characteristics:
- • Contains identical TrueType data to TTF
- • Data fork container with resource map
- • Can contain multiple font faces
- • macOS-specific file system structure
- • Extension: .dfont
Current Status (2025):
- • macOS-only desktop format
- • Legacy, use OTF/TTF for new work
- • File size: ~150-300 KB (same as TTF)
- • Use case: Legacy Mac desktop only
Completely Different Purposes
WOFF and DFONT serve non-overlapping use cases:
- WOFF: Web font delivery, browsers, HTTP transfer, all platforms
- DFONT: macOS desktop installation, Finder, local use, Mac only
- No overlap: DFONT doesn't work on web; WOFF isn't for desktop installation
- Modern approach: Use OTF/TTF for desktop, convert to WOFF2/WOFF for web
Technical Differences
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | WOFF | DFONT |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Web font delivery | Desktop installation |
| Platform Support | All browsers, all OS | macOS only |
| Compression | zlib (40-50%) | None |
| File Size | 90 KB (compressed) | ~150-300 KB |
| Web Compatibility | Yes (designed for web) | No (never supported) |
| Desktop Install | No (web only) | Yes (macOS) |
| Font Data | TrueType/OpenType | TrueType (same data) |
| Standard | W3C open standard | Apple proprietary |
| Modern Status | Active, primary web format | Legacy, use OTF/TTF |
Web Optimization vs Desktop Storage
WOFF Web Optimization:
- • Compressed for fast network transfer
- • Optimized for HTTP delivery
- • Metadata for web licensing
- • Browser-native decompression
- • Goal: Minimize bandwidth, maximize speed
DFONT Desktop Storage:
- • Uncompressed for direct OS access
- • Optimized for local file system
- • Resource map for font faces
- • macOS Finder recognition
- • Goal: Native desktop installation
Same Font Data, Different Packaging
Both formats can contain identical TrueType font data:
- • Same glyphs: Identical visual appearance
- • Same metrics: Identical spacing and kerning
- • Same features: Identical OpenType capabilities
- • Only difference: Container format and compression
- • Conversion: Lossless between desktop and web formats
Use Cases and Platform Support
Always Use WOFF For:
- • Websites: All public-facing sites
- • Web applications: SPAs, PWAs, dashboards
- • Email templates: HTML emails with custom fonts
- • Mobile web: iOS Safari, Android Chrome
- • Cross-platform: Any web content accessed by users
Why: Universal browser support, optimized for network delivery, works everywhere.
When You Encounter DFONT:
- • macOS system fonts: Some Apple bundled fonts
- • Legacy Mac software: Old applications from 2000s
- • Classic Mac archives: Font collections pre-OpenType
- • Old documents: InDesign/QuarkXPress files from early OS X
Action: Convert DFONT to OTF/TTF for universal compatibility, then to WOFF2 for web.
Don't Use DFONT For:
- • Web projects: Zero browser support, won't work
- • New desktop work: Use OTF/TTF instead
- • Cross-platform: Windows/Linux can't read DFONT
- • File sharing: Recipients may not have Mac
- • Modern workflows: Standard formats preferred
Platform Compatibility
Platform Support Matrix
| Platform | WOFF | DFONT |
|---|---|---|
| Web Browsers (All) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Windows Desktop | ~ | ✗ |
| macOS Desktop | ~ | ✓ |
| Linux Desktop | ~ | ✗ |
| iOS/iPadOS | ✓ | ✗ |
| Android | ✓ | ✗ |
~ = WOFF works in browsers on that OS, but cannot be installed as desktop font
✓ = Full support
✗ = No support
Critical Distinction
WOFF is for web browsers, not desktop installation:
- • Cannot install WOFF in Windows font folder
- • Cannot install WOFF in macOS Font Book
- • Photoshop, Word, etc. won't see WOFF files
- • WOFF only works via @font-face in CSS
- • Use OTF/TTF for desktop, WOFF for web
Workflow and Conversion
Complete Font Workflow
- Start with OTF/TTF: Universal desktop format
- Desktop installation: Install OTF/TTF on your computer
- Design work: Use in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign
- For web deployment: Convert OTF/TTF to WOFF2 + WOFF
- Upload to server: Place WOFF2/WOFF in /fonts/ directory
- Implement CSS: Use @font-face declarations
- Never: Don't convert WOFF to desktop or DFONT to web
Converting DFONT to Web Fonts
If you have DFONT and need web fonts:
- DFONT → TTF: Use FontForge to extract TrueType data
- TTF → WOFF2: Use FontTools or online converter
- TTF → WOFF: Create fallback version
- Result: Web-ready fonts from legacy Mac format
Tools: FontForge (DFONT extraction), FontTools (web conversion), font-converters.com (online)
Web Font Implementation
/* Correct web font implementation */
@font-face {
font-family: 'MyFont';
src: url('/fonts/font.woff2') format('woff2'),
url('/fonts/font.woff') format('woff');
font-weight: 400;
font-style: normal;
font-display: swap;
}
body {
font-family: 'MyFont', -apple-system, sans-serif;
}
/* Notes:
- WOFF2 primary (97%+ browsers, smallest)
- WOFF fallback (99%+ browsers)
- font-display: swap prevents FOIT
- Source: OTF/TTF desktop, not DFONT */Modern Recommendations
Universal Font Strategy:
- Desktop fonts: Use OTF/TTF (universal, all platforms)
- Web fonts: Use WOFF2 + WOFF (universal browsers)
- Source format: Keep OTF/TTF as master files
- Avoid DFONT: Mac-only, use standard formats instead
- Clear separation: Desktop formats ≠ web formats
Format Selection Guide
| Scenario | Use |
|---|---|
| Website/web app | WOFF2 + WOFF |
| Desktop design work | OTF or TTF |
| Cross-platform project | OTF or TTF |
| Legacy Mac system | DFONT (if required) |
| New Mac project | OTF or TTF, not DFONT |
Best Practices Checklist
- ☐ Use OTF/TTF for desktop font management
- ☐ Use WOFF2 + WOFF for web font delivery
- ☐ Keep desktop and web fonts separate
- ☐ Convert DFONT to OTF/TTF for universal compatibility
- ☐ Never try to install WOFF as desktop font
- ☐ Never try to use DFONT on web (won't work)
- ☐ Store OTF/TTF as source, generate WOFF2/WOFF for deployment
- ☐ Test web fonts in browsers, not desktop apps
- ☐ Document font sources and licenses
Summary: WOFF vs DFONT
WOFF and DFONT serve completely different purposes with zero overlap. WOFF is the universal web font standard (W3C 2012) with 99%+ browser support across all platforms, using zlib compression for optimal HTTP delivery at ~90 KB per font. DFONT is Apple's macOS-specific desktop font container (2001) that stores TrueType data in data fork format, working only on macOS and never supported by any web browser. Both can contain identical TrueType font data—the difference is packaging and deployment context.
Use WOFF2/WOFF exclusively for web fonts on websites and web applications. Use OTF/TTF for desktop installation across Windows, macOS, and Linux. DFONT is a legacy Mac format that should be converted to OTF/TTF for modern work. Never try to use WOFF for desktop installation or DFONT for web delivery—they're designed for completely different purposes. Modern workflow: obtain OTF/TTF fonts, install them for desktop design work, convert to WOFF2/WOFF for web deployment. Clear separation between desktop and web formats ensures universal compatibility.
Written & Verified by
Sarah Mitchell
Product Designer, Font Specialist
WOFF vs DFONT FAQs
Common questions answered about this font format comparison