What are fallback font strategies?

A font stack lists fonts in order of preference, with the browser/client using the first available option. The strategy: start with your ideal font, follow with similar alternatives, end with a generic family.

Example stack: font-family: 'Proxima Nova', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; This tries Proxima Nova (web font), falls back to Helvetica Neue (Mac), then Helvetica, then Arial (Windows), then any sans-serif.

Choose fallbacks that preserve design intent. If your brand font is a geometric sans-serif, don't fall back to Times New Roman. Match x-height, weight availability, and character width where possible. Your fallback should feel like the same family of design, even if not the exact font. Test with fallbacks intentionally to see what most recipients actually experience.

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