Icon font sets like Font Awesome and Bootsrap’s glyphicons have popularised the use of web fonts for iconography. Unfortunately this means that your icons will not render until a (typically) large font file has downloaded, and sometimes results in an unsightly ⃞ symbol instead of your icons when the font file fails to download in time. Icon fonts are bad practice for performance and accessibility, replace them with SVG as soon as possible.
In the world of web design, icons have become an indispensable element. They simplify complex information, enhance user experience, and add visual appeal to websites. For years, icon fonts have been a popular choice for web designers due to their flexibility and ease of use. However, as web performance becomes increasingly critical, it’s time to re-evaluate the use of icon fonts and consider migrating to SVG icons.
Understanding Icon Fonts
Icon fonts are essentially font files that contain symbols or icons instead of letters. They are embedded into HTML using CSS, making them easy to scale, color, and style. While icon fonts offer convenience, they also have limitations.
Large File Sizes: Icon fonts often include a large number of characters, even if only a few are used. This can lead to increased file sizes, which can negatively impact page load times.
Limited Customization: While icon fonts can be styled with CSS, their customization options are relatively limited compared to SVG icons.
Accessibility Issues: Icon fonts can pose accessibility challenges for users with visual impairments if not implemented correctly.
The Advantages of SVG Icons
SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) icons offer several advantages over icon fonts:
Smaller File Sizes: SVG icons are vector-based, meaning they can be scaled without losing quality. This results in smaller file sizes, leading to faster page load times.
Greater Customization: SVG icons can be customized extensively using CSS, allowing for more complex styling and effects.
Improved Accessibility: SVG icons are inherently more accessible than icon fonts, as they can be described using text alternatives for users with visual impairments.
Migrating from Icon Fonts to SVG Icons
**Choose an SVG Icon Library: There are numerous online libraries where you can find high-quality SVG icons. Some popular options include Font Awesome, Heroicons, and Material Design Icons.
Download and Organize Your Icons: Download the SVG icons you need and organize them in a suitable directory within your Shopify theme.
Replace Icon Font References: In your theme’s CSS files, replace references to your icon font with direct references to the SVG files. This typically involves using the background-image property and specifying the URL of the SVG file.
Adjust Styling: If necessary, adjust the CSS styling to match the appearance of the SVG icons to the original icon font.
Optimize SVG Files: To further improve performance, consider optimizing your SVG files using tools like SVGO. This can help reduce file size without affecting quality.
Test and Debug: Thoroughly test your website to ensure that the SVG icons are displayed correctly and that there are no performance issues. If you encounter any problems, debug your code and make necessary adjustments.
Additional Considerations
Icon Sprites: If you’re using a large number of SVG icons, consider creating icon sprites. This involves combining multiple SVG files into a single file, reducing HTTP requests and improving performance.
Accessibility Best Practices: Ensure that your SVG icons are accessible by providing appropriate alt text and using ARIA attributes.
Browser Compatibility: While most modern browsers support SVG, it’s essential to test your website on different browsers and devices to ensure compatibility.
Conclusion
Migrating from icon fonts to SVG icons can significantly improve the performance and accessibility of your Shopify store. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can make the transition seamlessly and enjoy the benefits of smaller file sizes, greater customization, and improved user experience.