A Serif is a small line attached to the end of a stroke in a letter. This small line creates a typeface that is more sophisticated and traditional; but can sometimes appear a little old-fashioned.

Sans Serif fonts do not have serifs on the end of strokes and are considered more modern compared to serif fonts. Look at the graphic to see the differences in these two type styles.

Determining when to use serif or sans serif fonts can depend on the tone of the work you are designing. You might want to use a serif font for a more elegant appearance, or turn to a sans serif fonts for a more modern look. But beyond the purely aesthetic, there are also some practical reasons to choose sans serif or serif fonts.

Serif fonts are more commonly used in printed works due to the higher resolution of the finished products. In printed material, the serifs help the eyes travel across the page since the letters visually connect to each other. Serif typefaces are easier to read and can be read at a faster pace.

Sans serif fonts are easier to read on digital screens, especially with lower-resolution displays.		Serif fonts flow more smoothly on a printed page, and have a sharper effect.

San serif fonts are more commonly used in signs that need to be seen from a distance or in digital displays with lower resolutions. Using serif fonts on lower resolution digital displays can cause the serifs to blur the font and make them less legible to the readers. Of course, designers can use sans serif fonts on printed pages, and serif fonts on digital screens, or use both types at the same time!