(How) can I use native Android fonts in the browser simply by css without web fonts?

Question

I'm trying to make a web app without the use of web fonts to keep browser requests at an absolute minimum.

At the same time, I'm trying to use only "good-looking" slim fonts for Headings etc.

This is basically no problem: iOS and Mac OS have HelveticaNeue-UltraLight natively, and Windows (Phone) has Segoe UI (WP) Light.

The fonts do not look the same, but they give a similar overall style and I don't have to use a single webfont. All can be addressed directly via css "font-family".

Is there a way to get a similar appearance on Android? Android has Roboto Light, which would perfectly serve my requirements, but it seems impossible to simply address this via css styles without webfonts.

Answer 1

You can use

font-family: "HelveticaNeue-UltraLight", "Segoe UI", "Roboto Light", sans-serif;

Each OS try use font from this list in course. When the browser finds a font that is present in the system, it will start to use it. iOS will use the font "HelveticaNeue-UltraLight" and ignore other. Android will use the font "Roboto Light" ...