View source for Roboto

{{Short description|Open-source typeface family}}
{{about|the typeface|the Masters of the Universe character|Roboto (character)}}
{{confused|Mr. Roboto (disambiguation){{!}}Mister Roboto}}
{{Update|type=section|date=September 2020|reason=Lacking reviews regarding typeface after Android 5.0 redesign}}

{{Infobox typeface
| name = Roboto
| familyname = 
| image = Roboto_Font_Sample.svg
| style = [[Sans-serif]]
| classifications = [[Sans-Serif#Neo-grotesque|Neo-grotesque]]
| creator = Christian Robertson
| commissioned_by = [[Google]]
| foundry = [[Google]]
| foundries = 
| latest_release_version = v3.009
| latest_release_date = January 8, 2025
| creationdate = 2011
| releasedate = {{Start date and age|2011}}
| trademark = 
| aka = 
| license = [[Apache License]]
| variations = 
| based_on = [[Normal-Grotesk]]
| metrically_compatible_with = Crique Grotesk<br>[[Helvetica]] (before redesign)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.myfonts.com/fonts/stawix/crique-grotesk|title=Crique Grotesk typeface|access-date=2021-02-22|website=MyFonts.com}}</ref>
| sample = [[File:Roboto.png|150px]]
| shown_here = 
| sample_fullimage = 
| latin = yes
| greek = yes
| cyrillic = yes
| hebrew = yes (under the name, Heebo)
| hindi = 
| ipa = 
}}

'''Roboto''' ({{IPAc-en|r|oʊ|'|b|Q|t|.|oʊ}})<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WxACOHm0_g |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/6WxACOHm0_g |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Making Material Design: Refining Roboto|date=28 May 2015 |access-date=July 22, 2019|publisher=Google Design}}{{cbignore}}</ref> is a [[typeface family]] developed by [[Google]]. The first typeface was created as the system font for its [[Android (operating system)|Android]] operating system, and released in 2011 for [[Android Ice Cream Sandwich|Android 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich"]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2011/10/android-ice-cream-sandwich-3 |title=Google Unwraps Ice Cream Sandwich, the Next-Generation Android OS |last=Isaac |first=Mike |date=October 19, 2011 |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |access-date=November 18, 2017}}</ref>

The entire font family has been licensed under the [[Apache license]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fontsquirrel.com/license/roboto |title=License for font family 'Roboto' |website=Font Squirrel |access-date=November 18, 2017}}</ref> In 2014, Roboto was redesigned for [[Android Lollipop|Android 5.0 "Lollipop"]].

==Usage==
Roboto is the default system font on [[Android (operating system)|Android]], and since 2013, other Google services such as [[Google Play]], [[YouTube]], [[Google Maps]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alphr.com/blogs/2013/05/17/hands-on-with-the-new-google-maps |title=Hands on with the new Google Maps |last=Graham-Smith |first=Darien |date=May 17, 2013 |website=[[Alphr]] |access-date=November 18, 2017}}</ref>  [[Google Images]], and more.

In 2017, Roboto was used on the [[Technology of the New York City Subway#Mainline_B_Division_and_Flushing_Line_clocks|LCD countdown clocks]] of the [[New York City Subway]]'s [[B Division (New York City Subway)|B Division]] lines.

Roboto Bold is the default font in [[Unreal Engine 4]], and in [[Kodi (software)|Kodi]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kodi.tv/article/xbmc-110-may-cycle-updated |title=XBMC 11.0 – May Cycle (updated) |last=Betzen |first=Nathan |date=June 5, 2012 |website=[[Kodi (software)|Kodi]] |access-date=November 18, 2017}}</ref> Roboto Condensed is used to display Information on European versions of [[Nintendo Switch]] packaging, including physical releases of games.

[[Utsav Plus|Utsav Network]] uses Roboto for its wordmark.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bizasialive.com/exclusive-first-look-at-the-new-utsav-branding/ |title=Exclusive: First look at Star TV's new Utsav TV branding |last=Baddhan |first=Lakh |date=January 11, 2021 |website=BizAsia |access-date= June 4, 2021}}</ref> The Indonesian news TV channel [[iNews]] also uses Roboto on its logo.

Since October 2022, [[Global News]] has also used Roboto in its on-air presentation, however the font is not used in main network presentation.

The [[United Nations]] uses Roboto on its website and in official documents.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/styleguide/ |website=UN web style guide |publisher=United Nations |title=UN Web Style Guide }}</ref>

== History ==
Android's previous system typeface, [[Droid (typeface)|Droid Sans]], was designed for the low-resolution displays of the very early Android devices, and did not display well in larger, higher-resolution screens of later models.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2014/07/google-is-designing-the-font-of-the-future.html |title=Google Is Designing the Font of the Future. Here's How |last=Roose |first=Kevin |date=July 16, 2014 |website=New York Magazine |access-date=March 8, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://blog.gsmarena.com/googles-matias-duarte-talks-about-thew-new-roboto-font-in-ice-cream-sandwich |title=Google's Matias Duarte talks about the new Roboto font in Ice Cream Sandwich|date=11 November 2011 }}</ref> It was decided that a more modern typeface, designed from scratch, was needed for the newer displays.

=== Early development ===

The new typeface, Roboto, was designed entirely in-house by Christian Robertson who previously had released an expanded [[Ubuntu Titling]] font through his personal type foundry Betatype.<ref name="Frankenfont">{{cite web |url=http://typographica.org/on-typography/roboto-typeface-is-a-four-headed-frankenstein |title=Roboto Was a Four-headed Frankenfont |last=Coles |first=Stephen |date=October 19, 2011 |website=Typographica |access-date=November 18, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.christianrobertson.com |title=Christian Robertson. Interface, type designer. |access-date=November 18, 2017}}</ref> The font was officially made available for free download on January 12, 2012, on the newly launched Android Design website.

Compared to the humanist sans-serif Droid Sans, Roboto belongs to the [[Sans-serif#Classification|neo-grotesque]] genre of sans-serif typefaces. It includes Thin, Light, Regular, Medium, Bold and Black [[Font#Weight|weights]] with matching [[oblique type|oblique]] styles rather than true italics. It also includes [[Font#Width|condensed]] styles in Light, Regular and Bold, also with matching [[oblique type|oblique]] designs.

=== 2014: "Material Design" redesign ===
In 2014, [[Matias Duarte]] announced at [[Google I/O]] that Roboto was significantly redesigned for [[Android Lollipop|Android 5.0 "Lollipop"]].<ref name="Frankenfont" /><ref name="Kellen Android L">{{cite web |title=Download: New Roboto for Android L and Material Design |url=https://www.droid-life.com/2014/06/25/download-new-roboto-for-android-l-and-material-design/ |website=Droid Life |date=25 June 2014 |access-date=30 May 2019}}</ref> Punctuation marks and the [[tittles]] in the lowercase "i" and "j" were changed from square to rounded, the leg part of the uppercase "R" were changed to curved to straight, the bottom surface of the top part of the number "1" points downwards instead of horizontal, the tail part of the numbers "6" and "9" have been slightly shortened (in resemblance to "[[Trebuchet MS]]"), the stem part of the number "7" becomes curved to straight, and the entire typeface was made “slightly wider and rounder” with many changes in details.<ref name="Frankenfont" /><ref name="Kellen Android L">{{cite web |title=Download: New Roboto for Android L and Material Design |url=https://www.droid-life.com/2014/06/25/download-new-roboto-for-android-l-and-material-design/ |website=Droid Life |date=25 June 2014 |access-date=30 May 2019}}</ref> The newly-redesigned version of Roboto is also offered in a wider range of [[font weight|font weights]], adding Thin (100), Medium (500), and Black (900) alongside Light (300), Regular (400), and Bold (700).
<gallery widths="300px" heights="300px">File:Roboto (typeface).svg|Sample text of Roboto in 2013 in various font weights and sizes, prior to the redesign for Android 5. Unlike now, the leg of the R has a curl, the same as in Helvetica.
</gallery>

== Language support ==
Roboto supports [[Latin script|Latin]], [[Greek script|Greek]] (partial) and [[Cyrillic script|Cyrillic]] scripts.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Roboto |title=Roboto |last=Robertson |first=Christian |date=2015 |website=[[Google Fonts]] |access-date=November 18, 2017}}</ref> 

On Android, the [[Noto fonts]] are used for languages not supported by Roboto, including [[Chinese script|Chinese]] (simplified and traditional), [[Japanese script|Japanese]], [[Korean script|Korean]], [[Thai script|Thai]] and [[Hindi script|Hindi]] (as of January 2014),<ref>{{cite news |url=https://material.io/guidelines/style/typography.html |title=Typography - Style |website=[[Material Design]] |access-date=November 18, 2017}}</ref> and [[Droid (typeface)|Droid fonts]] as of 2008.

== Variations ==

=== Roboto Mono ===
{{Infobox typeface
| name = Roboto Mono
| familyname = 
| image = Roboto Mono Specimen.jpg
| style = [[Sans-serif]]
| classifications = [[Monospaced]]
| creator = Christian Robertson
| commissioned_by = [[Google]]
| foundry = [[Google]] 
| creationdate = 
| releasedate = 2015
| sample = [[File:Roboto Mono pangram.svg|200px]]
| shown_here = 
| sample_fullimage = 
| latin = yes
| greek = yes
| cyrillic = yes
| hebrew = 
| hindi = 
| ipa = 
}}

Roboto Mono is a [[monospace]] font based on Roboto. It is available in seven weights: thin, extra-light, light, regular, medium, semi-bold and bold, with oblique stylings for each weight.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Roboto+Mono |title=Roboto Mono |last=Robertson |first=Christian |website=[[Google Fonts]] |access-date=November 18, 2017}}</ref>
{{clear}}

=== Roboto Serif ===
Roboto Serif is a companion typeface with serifs designed by Greg Gazdowicz of [[Commercial Type]]. It was debuted in 2022 to fill the serif niche.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/google-introduces-reading-optimized-roboto-serif-typeface|title=Google Introduces Reading-Optimized Roboto Serif Typeface|date=2022-02-19|access-date=2022-02-24}}</ref>

=== Roboto Slab ===
{{Infobox typeface
| name                   = Roboto Slab
| image                  = Roboto Slab.tiff
| style                  = [[Serif]]
| classifications        = [[Slab serif]]
| creator                = Christian Robertson
| commissioned_by        = [[Google]]
| latest_release_version = 1.100263
| releasedate            = March 2013
}}
Roboto Slab is a [[slab serif]] font based on Roboto. It was introduced in March 2013, as the default font in Google's note-taking service [[Google Keep]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/03/27/closer-look-google-keep-actually-shipped-with-a-new-serif-font-introducing-roboto-slab-download |title=Closer Look: Google Keep Actually Shipped With A New (Serif) Font – Introducing Roboto Slab |last=Spradlin |first=Liam |date=March 27, 2013 |website=Android Police |access-date=November 18, 2017}}</ref> (The font was changed to the sans-serif Roboto in 2018.)<ref>{{Cite web|last=Staff|date=2018-10-18|title=Google Keep Notes gets Material Design, brings sans-serif Roboto font and solid white background|url=https://www.bgr.in/news/google-keep-notes-material-design-october-2018-sans-serif-roboto-font-solid-white-background/|access-date=2019-07-04|website=BGR India|language=en-US}}</ref> It is available in four weights: thin, light, regular and bold. However, no oblique versions were released for it. In November 2019, the typeface was updated and added 5 new weights: Extra-Light, Medium, Semi-Bold, Extra-Bold and Black, and a variable font axis ranging from 100 to 900. It also was modified with some characteristics from the sans-serif Roboto and to slightly resemble most slab-serif typefaces, such as "R", "K", "k", "g", "C", "S", etc.
{{clear}}

=== Roboto Flex ===
Released in 2022, Roboto Flex is the [[variable font]] version of Roboto.<ref name="Roboto Flex - Google Fonts">{{cite web |url=https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Roboto+Flex |title=Roboto Flex - Google Fonts |access-date=2023-07-31}}</ref> Roboto Flex has 12 adjustable axes, including [[optical size]].<ref name="Roboto … But Make It Flex - Material Design">{{cite web |url=https://material.io/blog/roboto-flex |title=Roboto … But Make It Flex - Material Design |access-date=2023-07-31}}</ref> Notably, the static font version of Roboto does not have weights 200 (Extra Light), 600 (Semi Bold), and 800 (Extra Bold), which can be achieved by Roboto Flex via the weight axis. Roboto Flex supports Latin, Greek, and Cyrillic characters.

==== Potential inclusion as the new Android system font ====
Roboto Flex was still not used as the default system font in Android, potentially replacing classic Roboto. Meanwhile, Google started to use [[Product Sans|Google Sans Text]] as the default system font for Android system apps (e.g. Settings) in [[Google Pixel]] devices, following other Android [[Original equipment manufacturer|OEMs]] who introduce custom fonts to their system apps.

The Android source code has been updated to include the font as part of Android 14, though there are no official plans to switch the default system font from Roboto to Roboto Flex.<ref name="Include RobotoFlex font into AOSP system image">{{cite web |url=https://android.googlesource.com/platform/external/roboto-flex-fonts/+/be793852ed7c883ad59abd25a6acae72e70e5351 |title=Include RobotoFlex fonts into AOSP system image (Commit be793852ed7c883ad59abd25a6acae72e70e5351) |website=Git at Google |access-date=2023-10-29}}</ref>

=== Heebo ===
Heebo is an extension of Roboto that includes [[Hebrew alphabet|Hebrew characters]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://github.com/meirsadan/heebo |title=Heebo open source Hebrew font |website=[[GitHub]] |access-date=November 18, 2017}}</ref>

=== Inter ===
{{Infobox typeface
| name = Inter
| image = InterSpecimen3.19.svg
| style = [[Sans-serif]]
| classifications = [[Neo-grotesque]]
| creator = Rasmus Andersson
| latest_release_version = 4.1
| latest_release_date = November 16, 2024
| creationdate = August 2016
| releasedate = 2017
}}

Inter was designed in 2016 by Rasmus Andersson who wanted a font that was easier to read on computer screens than Roboto while retaining its vertical proportions.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.figma.com/blog/the-birth-of-inter |title=The birth of Inter |website=Inter |access-date=June 7, 2023}}</ref> Earlier versions of Inter (then "Interface" and "Inter UI") included glyphs and followed the vertical glyph metrics (ascender and descender) from Roboto, while Roboto glyphs were included as a fallback for characters which have not been (re-)designed in Inter. Inter changed its vertical glyph metrics since 2018, making it different from that of Roboto.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://github.com/rsms/inter/releases/tag/v2.5 |title=Inter UI Release v2.5 |website=[[GitHub]] |access-date=June 6, 2023}}</ref>

Due to this condition, the typeface had to be released in two combined licenses: the [[SIL Open Font License]] for original glyph designs for Inter and [[Apache License]] for the fallback Roboto glyphs and outlines. This exception was removed in 2020 after Roboto was re-licensed from Apache to OFL.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://github.com/rsms/inter/commit/1b5fcd816c78fa7184c8729565c7a1ee08acf9cb |title=Delete LICENSE for some glyph outlines.txt |website=[[GitHub]] |access-date=November 18, 2017}}</ref>

Inter also has an experimental "Display" version, a font which has less letter spacing and has linear endings of letters.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://github.com/rsms/inter/discussions/463 |title=Inter v4 (Discussion #463) |website=[[GitHub]] |access-date=2023-10-29}}</ref> Another variant with similar purpose, Inter Tight, is specifically designed for [[Google Workspace]] and other applications that do not support control over [[letter spacing]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Inter+Tight |title=Inter Tight |website=[[Google Fonts]] |access-date=2023-10-29}}</ref> The latter variant shares the same glyph shapes as Inter, while the former contains redesigned glyphs which will be introduced in a future version of Inter.

The Apple system font, [[San Francisco (sans-serif typeface)|San Francisco]], is similar to the Inter font. However, the latter features a [[Italic type|true italic]] whereas the former has an [[oblique type]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Inter?safe=active | title=Inter }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://online-fonts.com/fonts/san-francisco-pro-text | title=San Francisco Pro Text font }}</ref>

[[GNOME]] uses Adwaita Sans which is a customized version of Inter.<ref>{{cite web |title=GNOME Release Notes |url=https://release.gnome.org/48/#new-fonts |website=GNOME Release Notes |access-date=19 March 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Piboto ===
Piboto is a forked version of Roboto, including the original character styles as used before the 2014 redesign. It is specifically designed for and currently the system font of [[Raspberry Pi OS]] (then Raspbian) as part of their desktop UI redesign.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pi3g.com/interview-with-simon-long-of-raspberry-pi-about-the-raspberry-pi-desktop-ui-design-and-much-more/ |title=Interview with Simon Long of Raspberry Pi about the Raspberry Pi Desktop, UI design, and much more! |website=pi3g.com |date=4 January 2019 |access-date=June 6, 2023}}</ref>

[[File:Raspberry_Pi_OS_10_on_small_screen_(screenshot).png|220x124px|thumb|right|Raspberry Pi OS featuring Piboto as the system font]]

== Reception ==
Google developed Roboto to be "modern, yet approachable" and "emotional,"<ref name="ICE">{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2011/10/18/roboto-and-the-new-design-philosophy-of-android-4-0-ice-cream-s |title=Roboto font and the new design philosophy of Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich |last=O'Brien |first=Terrence |date=October 18, 2011 |website=[[Engadget]] |access-date=November 17, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Cream">{{cite web |url=https://news.in.msn.com/technology/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5526341 |title=Android Ice Cream Sandwich: Top 10 features that make it delicious |date=October 19, 2011 |website=[[MSN]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121209084519/http://news.in.msn.com/technology/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5526341 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 9, 2012 }}</ref> but the initial release (i.e., before the Android 5.0 redesign) received mixed reviews.

[[Joshua Topolsky]], Editor-In-Chief of technology news and media network ''[[The Verge (website)|The Verge]]'', describes the typeface as "clean and modern, but not overly futuristic – not a science fiction font".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2011/10/18/exclusive-matias-duarte-ice-cream-sandwich-galaxy-nexus |title=Exclusive: Matias Duarte on the philosophy of Android, and an in-depth look at Ice Cream Sandwich |last=Topolsky |first=Joshua |author-link=Joshua Topolsky |date=October 18, 2011 |website=[[The Verge]] |access-date=November 18, 2017}}</ref> However, typography commentator Stephen Coles of Typographica called the initial release "a Four-headed Frankenfont", describing it as a "hodgepodge" of different typographic styles which do not work well together. Coles later commented positively on the redesign and stated that it corrected many problems of the initial release.<ref name="Frankenfont" />

==See also==
* [[Open-source Unicode typefaces]]
* [[Cantarell (typeface)|Cantarell]], the default typeface in past versions of GNOME
* [[Droid (typeface)]], the default fonts for older versions of Android
**[[Noto fonts]], the default fonts for newer versions of Android
**[[Open Sans]], another font based on Droid Sans
* [[IBM Plex]], free and open-source fonts from IBM
* [[National Fonts]], free and open-source Thai fonts 
* [[PT Fonts]], free and open-source fonts from Russia
* [[STIX Fonts project]], typefaces intended to serve the scientific and engineering community

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Roboto}}
* [https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Roboto Roboto], download page at [[Google Fonts]]
* [https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Roboto+Condensed Roboto Condensed], download page at [[Google Fonts]]
* [https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Roboto+Slab Roboto Slab], download page at [[Google Fonts]]
* [https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Roboto+Mono Roboto Mono], download page at [[Google Fonts]]
* [https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Roboto+Serif Roboto Serif], download page at [[Google Fonts]]

{{Android}}
{{Google LLC}}
{{Free and open-source typography}}
{{Monospaced fonts}}

[[Category:Hebrew typefaces]]
[[Category:Neo-grotesque sans-serif typefaces]]
[[Category:Android (operating system)]]
[[Category:Typefaces and fonts introduced in 2011]]
[[Category:Open-source typefaces]]
[[Category:Monospaced typefaces]]
[[Category:Unified serif and sans-serif typeface families]]
[[Category:Typefaces with text figures]]