.woff File — Web Open Font Format

WOFF (Web Open Font Format) is a web font format that wraps TrueType or OpenType font data with compression and additional metadata for efficient web delivery. Standardized by the W3C in 2012, WOFF applies zlib compression to font tables, typically reducing file sizes by 40% compared to raw TTF/OTF files. WOFF was created to address the font licensing and performance challenges of using desktop fonts on the web. The format includes a metadata block where foundries can include licensing information, ensuring that fonts delivered via WOFF comply with distribution terms. WOFF also includes a private data block for vendor-specific information. The format was supported by all major browsers and quickly became the standard for web typography, replacing ad-hoc solutions like Embedded OpenType (EOT) and raw TTF serving. While WOFF remains widely supported, it has been largely superseded by WOFF2 which offers significantly better compression. Many modern web font services now serve only WOFF2, with WOFF as a fallback for older browsers. The format preserves all OpenType features including ligatures, kerning, and alternate glyphs.