HTML Font Size: Meaning & Equivalence to Word Processor

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the meaning of font sizes specified using the HTML tag and their equivalence to point sizes used in word processors. Participants express confusion regarding the actual size represented by the numeric values in the tag and explore the implications of using deprecated HTML elements versus modern CSS practices.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the equivalence of the tag to a specific point size in word processors.
  • Another participant provides a rough approximation of deprecated font sizes in pixels, suggesting that size 3 corresponds to 16px.
  • Some participants argue that the font size defined by the tag is arbitrary and dependent on the browser's rendering.
  • There is a consensus that the tag is deprecated and that CSS should be used for defining font sizes.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the tag is outdated and that CSS is the preferred method for styling text. However, there is disagreement regarding the exact equivalence of the numeric sizes to point sizes or pixels, as well as the implications of using the tag.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the lack of clarity on how different browsers may interpret the tag sizes and the absence of a definitive mapping to point sizes in word processors.

Math Is Hard
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When you set a font size with font tags like:

<font size="3">Word</font>

Does this have an equivalent "point size" like "14 point" in a word processor? I'm confused about what the size in the tag means.

Thanks.
 
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Math Is Hard said:
When you set a font size with font tags like:

<font size="3">Word</font>

Does this have an equivalent "point size" like "14 point" in a word processor? I'm confused about what the size in the tag means.

Thanks.

the approximation of the deprecated font sizes in pixels:

1 = 10px
2 = 12px
3 = 16px
4 = 18px
5 = 24px
6 = 30px

However you should not be using the FONT tag anymore. Look into CSS. You can define many ways like pt, em, px...
 
No it's an arbitrary scale from 1-7, it's upto the browser to decide how big to draw it.
If you care about how it looks you have to use CSS - which you should use anyway <font> is deprecated
 
ok, thanks.
 

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