Font Size Amender

Question

Is there still any need for a font resizer in web apps?

Modern web browseers easilly allow you to zoom in on content. Older browsers such as IE6 and IE7 require you to change the font size via changing the text size in the View menu.

I used to add three A A A links to specify different font sizes within the web application itself. Clicking on one of these links would increase/decrease the default font size and save the setting in a cookie.

I'm just wondering if people think this process is still required?

Cheer Sniffer

Answer 1

If someone is looking to change text size, having the ability to do so in the browser and on the site means they're more likely to find the option. However, something to think about:

If in testing or conversation you find people actually using your zoom buttons, your text is too small.

Whether or not the site design is clever matters much less to your users than if your paragraph font size is too small and usability is reduced. Rather than need the text re-sizer, seriously weight the option of just making the content larger (or alternatively, programming content size so that the browser defaults, set and preferred by the user, are used instead of your own proclivities).

A few resources to consider the conversation further:

• IxDA font size discussion
• iArchitects: Web design is 95% typography
• iArchitects: The 100% easy-2-read standard
• Jakob Nielsen: Let users control font size
• Jakob Nielsen: Top 10 mistakes in web design (Number 5)

Answer 2

To me, its clutter and stepping on the toes of the browser. Like having your own bookmark control. Or having a "launch new window" control. Or a back button. Or a delete the cookies I track button. The browser does its job and you do your job.

If you insist on putting it there, try and track usage over a week...see how many people care.

Answer 3

I have another consideration - novice users might not be aware of the resizing capabilities of browsers, so if you suspect the site it both meant for user and the font size might be problematic - keep the control.

Answer 4

Two reasons for allowing the user to select the font size on your site:

1. It only affects your site and not all sites viewed in that browser or tab.

2. You keep control over how your site looks with all the different font sizes.

Reasons for not having the control:

1. As you've already mentioned most (if not all) modern browsers let the user zoom in and out.

2. You've less code to maintain as you don't have to check on what font size is required and possibly store that preference across sessions.

I still see the control (or it's equivalent) on a significant number of sites, so for some people the reasons for still outweigh the reasons against.

Answer 5

When you add the control in your website, it doesn't change anything for the different img or videos of your website, that's what you'll need for the AA