FILE FORMAT GUIDE
TTF File (.TTF): What It Is & How to Open It
An SFNT-based font commonly using TrueType glyph outlines. Its table directory can include glyph, metrics, naming and layout data.
Compare the reviewed OpenType / TrueType outlines header signature with the filename in your browser.
Check supported file headersQuick facts
- Extension
- .ttf
- Format
- TrueType Font
- Category
- font
- MIME type
- font/ttf
- Standard / developer
- Microsoft and ISO/IEC Open Font Format contributors
- Open with
- Font preview / Font Book
What is TTF?
A TTF is structured as an offset table and tagged tables; the 00010000 scaler type is the common TrueType signature. A valid header does not establish font licensing or safe installability.
How to open TTF
Font preview / Font BookWindows / macOS
Double-click the TTF file to preview it with the system font viewer. Install it only when you trust the source and understand the license.
Common uses and compatibility
- Store a table-based font for use by supporting font systems
Things to check
- Parsing a font does not grant permission to install, modify or redistribute it.
Advanced inspection
These developer and command-line workflows inspect structure or metadata. They are not the default way most people open the file.
fontTools TTFontPython library
Open the file with TTFont("font.ttf", lazy=True), inspect keys or selected tables, and close it. Do not call save when the task is read-only. WOFF2 support may require optional dependencies.
Technical details
- Signature
- 00 01 00 00
- Encoding
- Not applicable
- Container
- SFNT table container
- Compression
- Table data is not inherently compressed
Related formats
- OpenType CFF Font
This TTF record covers TrueType outlines, while the related OTF record covers OpenType fonts using CFF outlines.
- Web Open Font Format 2
WOFF2 is compressed packaging for web-font delivery and can originate from TrueType-flavored OpenType data.
Sources & review
Sources reviewed 2026-09-19.