Elevating User Experience with Custom Fonts in React Native
Custom fonts are a crucial element in creating a unique and engaging user experience in mobile applications. In this article, we’ll explore how to add custom fonts to a React Native app using Google Fonts, and discuss common pitfalls to avoid.
Using Custom Fonts in React Native CLI Projects
To get started, let’s create a new React Native CLI project and add custom fonts using Google Fonts. We’ll use the Quicksand and Raleway fonts as examples.
First, bootstrap a new React Native CLI project by running the following command:
npx react-native init CustomFontCLI
Next, download the Quicksand and Raleway fonts from Google Fonts and extract the TTF files. Create an assets folder in the root directory of your project and add a fonts subfolder. Copy the TTF files into the fonts folder.
Create a react-native.config.js file in the root directory and add the following code:
javascript
module.exports = {
assets: ['./assets/fonts'],
};
Link the fonts to your project by running the following command:
npx react-native link
Now you can use the custom fonts in your app. Here’s an example of how to use the Quicksand font in a Text component:
“`javascript
import React from ‘react’;
import { Text, View } from ‘react-native’;
const App = () => {
return (
);
};
export default App;
“`
Using Custom Fonts in Expo Projects
If you’re using Expo, you can add custom fonts using the useFonts hook. First, install the expo-font package:
npm install expo-font
Next, import the useFonts hook and load the custom fonts:
“`javascript
import React from ‘react’;
import { Text, View } from ‘react-native’;
import { useFonts } from ‘expo-font’;
const App = () => {
const [fontsLoaded] = useFonts({
‘Quicksand-Regular’: require(‘./assets/fonts/Quicksand-Regular.ttf’),
});
if (!fontsLoaded) {
return
}
return (
);
};
export default App;
“`
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
When working with custom fonts in React Native, there are several common pitfalls to avoid:
- Font loading time: Make sure to load the fonts before rendering the app.
- Mismatched font family names: Ensure that the font family names match the exact name of the font file.
- Incorrect font path: Double-check the file structure and ensure the paths match the exact location of the font file.
- Unsupported font formats: Verify that the system supports the font format you’re using.
- Performance impact: Minimize the number of custom fonts you load to avoid performance issues.
By following these tips and best practices, you can effectively integrate custom fonts into your React Native app and enhance the user experience.