Sans serif typefaces are typefaces without serifs. Their stroke has an almost uniform thickness, and they are divided into several subfamilies: grotesques, neo-grotesques, geometric sans and Humanist sans.
Where to see it
Sans serifs are everywhere: signage, digital interfaces, logotypes, road signs. They have dominated the screen since the rise of the web, from system fonts such as Apple's San Francisco and Google's Roboto to the identities of most technology brands.
Why this detail matters
Understanding sans serifs helps choose the right subfamily:
- A grotesque, a neo-grotesque, a geometric sans and a Humanist sans do not express the same thing at all, even though none of them has serifs;
- Their regular stroke makes them very readable on screen, hence their dominance in interfaces;
- Because they are so widespread, details such as spacing or weight need extra care for an identity to stand out.
Related term
Grotesques are the first sans serif typefaces, which appeared in the 19th century for advertising and posters.