Arial
Updated: 04/09/2024 by Computer Hope
Arial is a sans-serif font released in 1982 by Robin Nicolas and Patricia Saunders with Monotype Imaging. The Arial font is on all Microsoft Windows computers since the release of Windows 3.1, Apple macOS, and other programs. Computer operating systems and programs that include Arial also often include Arial Italic, Arial Bold, Arial Bold Italic, Arial Narrow, and Arial Black.
Each Arial character has the same width as the same character using the Helvetica font. This similarity allows a Windows computer user without a Helvetica license to understand how a page would appear if it were using Helvetica.
Arial vs. Helvetica
When determining whether a font is Arial or Helvetica, look for the following characteristics.
- The lowercase "a" with Helvetica has a tail.
- With Helvetica, the ends of the "c" and "s" are horizontal.
- With Helvetica, the capital "G" has a spur at the bottom right; Arial does not.
- With Arial, the top of the lowercase "t" is cut at a diagonal. With Helvetica, the top of the lowercase "t" is flat.