Python Tkinter Fonts

When it comes to building Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) in Python, Tkinter is a go-to library. Tkinter is a built-in Python module that helps developers create GUIs with ease. It provides various widgets, such as labels, buttons, entry boxes, and more, that help developers craft visually appealing and interactive interfaces.

One of the essential aspects of a GUI is its font. The font of an interface element can dictate how well it displays user-generated content, how readable the content is, and how accessible the content is. In this article, we’ll explore Python Tkinter fonts, types of fonts supported by Tkinter, and how to use them.

Types of Fonts Available in Tkinter

Tkinter supports a wide range of fonts, including:

• Default system fonts, such as Arial, Verdana, and Times New Roman.
• Custom system fonts.
• Web fonts such as Google fonts.
• Fonts that come bundled with Tkinter.

Now that we’ve understood the font types, let’s dive into the process of implementing each of them.

Using the Default System Fonts

Python Tkinter comes with default system fonts that can be used without installing any external package. The following code snippet shows how to use the default fonts:

import tkinter as Tkinter
my_font = ("Times New Roman", 18)
label = Tkinter.Label(text="Hello World", font=my_font)
label.pack()

The above example sets the font of the label to Times New Roman with a font size of 18.

Using Custom System Fonts

You can use custom system fonts by providing the font name and size explicitly. It can be done in the following way:

import tkinter as Tkinter
my_font = ("My Custom Font", 18)
label = Tkinter.Label(text="Hello World", font=my_font)
label.pack()

Here, the custom font is named “My Custom Font” with a font size of 18.

Using Web Fonts

Python Tkinter also supports using web fonts like Google fonts. The following code snippet shows how to use a Google font:

import tkinter as Tkinter
import tkinter.font as tkFont
root = Tkinter.Tk()
web_font = tkFont.Font(family="Josefin Sans", size=18)
label = Tkinter.Label(text="Hello World", font=web_font)
label.pack()
root.mainloop()

Here, we’re using the “Josefin Sans” font from Google fonts. First, we create a root window, then import the tkinter.font module, and use it to generate our font. Finally, we use the Label widget with our web font to display our text.

Using Bundled Fonts in Tkinter

Tkinter comes bundled with a few fonts that can be used without any external package installation. The following code example shows how to use bundled fonts:

import tkinter as Tkinter
my_font = ("TkDefaultFont", 18)
label = Tkinter.Label(text="Hello World", font=my_font)
label.pack()

Here, we’re using the TkDefaultFont that comes bundled with Tkinter.

Conclusion

Python Tkinter supports different types of fonts useful for developing Graphical User Interfaces. We can use default system fonts or customizable system fonts, as well as web fonts like Google Fonts, and bundled fonts in Tkinter. Choosing a suitable font for our GUI enriches our interface and makes it more readable, making it much more accessible to users.