Discover how to add visual appeal to your HTML buttons using icon fonts. This straightforward guide walks you through the essentials of working with icon fonts, perfect for web design beginners.
Have you ever noticed small, stylish icons inside buttons like a magnifying glass for search, a shopping cart for checkout, or a trash bin for delete actions? These icons make buttons more intuitive and visually appealing.
But how are they added to HTML buttons? The answer lies in Font Icon Libraries.
For coding students and career-changers, understanding font icons is essential because they simplify UI design while keeping websites fast and responsive.
Unlike traditional image-based icons, font icons are lightweight, scalable, and easy to customize—making them a favorite among web developers.
In this quick guide, we’ll cover:
- What font icon libraries are and how they work
- The advantages of using font icons over traditional images
- Popular font icon libraries (with examples)
- How to integrate and style them in HTML buttons
- Best-practices for performance and accessibility
By the end, you’ll have a solid grasp of how to enhance your buttons with scalable, customizable icons.
What is a Font Icon Library?
A font icon library is a collection of scalable vector icons that can be inserted into web pages just like text. Instead of using image files (like PNG or SVG), these icons are treated as characters in a font file, meaning they can be:
- Scaled to any size without losing quality
- Styled with CSS (color, size, shadows, etc.)
- Easily Inserted using class names or Unicode
How do Font Icons Work?
We load font icons as a web font (similar to Google Fonts). The process works like this:
A font file is loaded (usually via a CDN or self-hosted).
Developers reference icons using HTML classes or Unicode.
You apply CSS styling just like regular text.
Code
HTML Font Awesome Example
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/font-awesome/6.0.0/css/all.min.css">
<button>
<i class="fas fa-search"></i> Search
</button>Explanation
<!-- Link Font Awesome in the <head> -->
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/font-awesome/6.0.0/css/all.min.css">
<!-- Use an icon in a button -->
<button>
<i class="fas fa-search"></i> Search
</button>
Copy and paste the code above into your favorite code editing app. like JSFiddle - Code Editor. Place the code in the HTML section and hit the "Run" button.
The <i> tag (traditionally for italics) is commonly used for icons, but you can also use <span>. The fas class stands for "Font Awesome Solid," and fa-search specifies the search icon. The link at the top needs to be inserted in the head section of your website page. You can place the button anywhere in the body section of your site.
Why Use Font Icons Instead of Images?
FeatureFont IconsImage Icons (PNG/SVG)
Scalability Perfect at any size Pixelates when enlarged
File Size Lightweight (single font file) Multiple HTTP requests
Styling CSS customizable (color, size, etc.) Requires image editing
Performance Faster loading Slower with multiple images
Font icons are ideal for responsive design because they adapt seamlessly to different screen sizes.
Popular Font Icon Libraries
Several widely used font icon libraries are available for free. Below, we’ll explore three of the most popular options.
1. Font Awesome
Best for: General-purpose icons (social media, UI elements, brands)
Features:
Free & premium versions
Over 7,000 icons
Supports JavaScript frameworks (React, Vue)
2. Bootstrap Icons
Best for: Bootstrap projects (but works with any framework)
Features:
Open-source and free
1,800+ icons
Optimized for Bootstrap but framework-agnostic
3. Google’s Material Icons
Best for: Modern, minimalist designs (Material Design)
Features:
Integrated with Google Fonts
Simple, clean icons
Ideal for Android and web apps
Why Are They Called “Font” Icons?
Font icons are essentially vector symbols packaged as a font file (e.g., .woff, .ttf). This means they inherit all the benefits of text:
- Scalability: No loss of quality when resized.
- Lightweight: A single font file replaces hundreds of image icons.
- CSS Control: Change color, size, shadows, and animations easily.
How to Use Font Icons in Buttons (Step-by-Step Guide)
Step 1: Choose a Library
Pick one of the libraries mentioned above (Font Awesome, Bootstrap Icons, or Material Icons).
Step 2: Link the Library in HTML
Most libraries offer a CDN link. Add it to your <head> section.
Step 3: Insert the Icon in a Button
Use the appropriate class (e.g., fas fa-icon-name for Font Awesome).
Step 4: Style with CSS
Customize the button and icon appearance.
Step 5: Optimize for Accessibility
Since screen readers may not interpret icons correctly, add aria-label.
Best-practices for using Font Icons
- Use a content delivery network CDN for faster loading - Most libraries offer free CDN hosting.
- Load only what you need - Some libraries (like Font Awesome) let you load specific icons.
- Optimize for Performance - If you are self-hosting, use WOFF2 format for better compression.
- Ensure Accessibility - Always include aria-label for interactive icons.
- Fallback for Disabled JavaScript - Some font icons rely on JS; provide a fallback if needed.
Now that you understand how they work, try adding them to your next project!
Let's apply what we learned, read How to Add Font Icon Libraries to HTML Buttons.
Last Words
Font icon libraries are a powerful tool for web developers, especially for beginners. They offer:
Easy Integration (just like text)
Scalability (no pixilation at any size)
Customizability (full CSS control)