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Jun 3, 2026
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Revise content on parametric fonts and usage guidelines #10544

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7 changes: 5 additions & 2 deletions cc-by-sa/knowledge/glossary/terms/parametric_font/content.md
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A parametric [font](/glossary/font) is a [variable font](/glossary/variable_fonts) where one or more of its [axes](/glossary/axis_in_variable_fonts) are [parametric axes](/glossary/parametric_axis), such as [Roboto Flex](https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Roboto+Flex?query=roboto+flex) or [Amstelvar](https://github.com/googlefonts/amstelvar). Unlike expressive variation axes like [Weight (`wght`)](/glossary/weight_axis) and [Width (`wdth`)](/glossary/width_axis), parametric axes adjust attributes of typefaces that are detailed, measurable, and have values that can be reused across fonts.
A parametric [font](/glossary/font) is a [variable font](/glossary/variable_fonts) where one or more of its [axes](/glossary/axis_in_variable_fonts) are [parametric axes](/glossary/parametric_axis), such as [Roboto Flex](https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Roboto+Flex?query=roboto+flex).
Parametric axes adjust specific attributes of a typeface that are detailed, measurable, and have values that can be reused across fonts.

<figure>

![The lowercase characters “para”, shown in black, with the values from the YTDE, XOPQ, YOPQ, and XTRA parametric axes shown close by. Minimum values are shown with a blue stroke; maximum values with pink.](images/thumbnail.svg)

</figure>

Because many axis settings in parametric fonts result in visually unappealing fonts, it is recommended that users adjust parametric fonts by using the expressive variation axes first, then fine-tune using the parametric axes.
We recommended that you adjust parametric axes only after setting more typical axes like Weight, Width and Optical Size first, then using parametric axes to finesse details.

Parametric axes are sensitive instruments for fine-tuning type, and using them delicately will result in visually perfect typography – but using them bluntly can easily create unappealing type styles.

For more information, please read our article, [“Introducing parametric axes.”](/lesson/introducing_parametric_axes)
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