U8x8 Fonts 💯
If you are building a battery-powered sensor node, a custom macro keyboard with a tiny screen, or a retro computer emulator, starting with U8x8 will save you hours of debugging memory corruption and slow refresh rates.
u8x8_font_chroma48medium8_r (A standard, highly readable font).
U8x8 fonts are bitmap fonts that consist of 8x8 pixel characters. Each character is represented by a small bitmap image, which is used to render the character on the screen. The font set typically includes a range of characters, such as letters, numbers, punctuation marks, and special symbols.
These are useful for clocks or simple, large numerical displays to save space. How to Use U8x8 Fonts in Arduino u8x8 fonts
Designed specifically for microcontrollers with tight resource constraints, U8x8 fonts trade some graphic flexibility for significantly reduced memory demands and faster performance. This makes them an invaluable tool for makers, hobbyists, and embedded developers who need crisp text output on devices like the ubiquitous , SH1106 , and other common display controllers.
Ensure the chosen font fits within the physical rows available on your display.
A common beginner mistake is using U8g2 (graphics) for everything because it "can do more." However, U8g2 requires a framebuffer. On a 128x64 display, U8g2 consumes: If you are building a battery-powered sensor node,
Often designated as _1x2 or _2x2 , these fonts scale characters vertically and horizontally, respectively, allowing for bold headlines or large numbers. Typical Font Naming Structure
Because loading bitmaps requires graphical memory buffers, the best way to display icons in U8x8 mode is by using the built-in iconic fonts.
includes hundreds of options categorized by their source and character set: Classic/System Fonts: u8x8_font_amstrad_cpc_extended_r : A popular full character set. u8x8_font_5x7_f : Compact font based on X11. u8x8_font_press_start_2p_r : A retro, arcade-style font. Large Fonts (Multi-Tile): u8x8_font_inb33_3x6_f : Very large numeric/text font for high visibility. u8x8_font_pxplusibmcga_f : Mimics classic IBM CGA text. Icons and Symbols: u8x8_font_open_iconic_weather_2x2 : Large weather-related icons. u8x8_font_open_iconic_arrow_1x1 : Standard navigation symbols. Font Name Suffixes Each character is represented by a small bitmap
The fntlist8x8 wiki page provides a comprehensive list, but here are the main categories: 1. Small 8x8 Fonts (Standard)
Moreover, the maintainer of U8g2 (Oliver Kraus) continues to update the font catalog. Recent additions include fonts for monospaced pixel coding and even a 7-segment emulation font.