---
id: bad87fee1348bd9aedf08808
title: Specify How Fonts Should Degrade
challengeType: 0
videoUrl: 'https://scrimba.com/c/cpVKBfQ'
forumTopicId: 18304
dashedName: specify-how-fonts-should-degrade
---

# --description--

There are several default fonts that are available in all browsers. These generic font families include `monospace`, `serif` and `sans-serif`.

When one font isn't available, you can tell the browser to "degrade" to another font.

For example, if you wanted an element to use the `Helvetica` font, but degrade to the `sans-serif` font when `Helvetica` isn't available, you will specify it as follows:

```css
p {
  font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;
}
```

Generic font family names are not case-sensitive. Also, they do not need quotes because they are CSS keywords.

# --instructions--

To begin, apply the `monospace` font to the `h2` element, so that it now has two fonts - `Lobster` and `monospace`.

In the last challenge, you imported the `Lobster` font using the `link` tag. Now comment out that import of the `Lobster` font (using the HTML comments you learned before) from Google Fonts so that it isn't available anymore. Notice how your `h2` element degrades to the `monospace` font.

**Note:** If you have the `Lobster` font installed on your computer, you won't see the degradation because your browser is able to find the font.

# --hints--

Your h2 element should use the font `Lobster`.

```js
assert(
  $('h2')
    .css('font-family')
    .match(/^"?lobster/i)
);
```

Your h2 element should degrade to the font `monospace` when `Lobster` is not available.

```js
assert(
  /\s*h2\s*\{\s*font-family\s*\:\s*(\'|"|)Lobster\1\s*,\s*monospace\s*;?\s*\}/gi.test(
    code
  )
);
```

You should comment out your call to Google for the `Lobster` font by putting `<!--` in front of it.

```js
assert(new RegExp('<!--[^fc]', 'gi').test(code));
```

You should close your comment by adding `-->`.

```js
assert(new RegExp('[^fc]-->', 'gi').test(code));
```

# --seed--

## --seed-contents--

```html
<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Lobster" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css">
<style>
  .red-text {
    color: red;
  }

  h2 {
    font-family: Lobster;
  }

  p {
    font-size: 16px;
    font-family: monospace;
  }
</style>

<h2 class="red-text">CatPhotoApp</h2>
<main>
  <p class="red-text">Click here to view more <a href="#">cat photos</a>.</p>

  <a href="#"><img src="https://cdn.freecodecamp.org/curriculum/cat-photo-app/relaxing-cat.jpg" alt="A cute orange cat lying on its back."></a>

  <div>
    <p>Things cats love:</p>
    <ul>
      <li>cat nip</li>
      <li>laser pointers</li>
      <li>lasagna</li>
    </ul>
    <p>Top 3 things cats hate:</p>
    <ol>
      <li>flea treatment</li>
      <li>thunder</li>
      <li>other cats</li>
    </ol>
  </div>

  <form action="https://freecatphotoapp.com/submit-cat-photo">
    <label><input type="radio" name="indoor-outdoor" checked> Indoor</label>
    <label><input type="radio" name="indoor-outdoor"> Outdoor</label><br>
    <label><input type="checkbox" name="personality" checked> Loving</label>
    <label><input type="checkbox" name="personality"> Lazy</label>
    <label><input type="checkbox" name="personality"> Energetic</label><br>
    <input type="text" placeholder="cat photo URL" required>
    <button type="submit">Submit</button>
  </form>
</main>
```

# --solutions--

```html
<!--<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Lobster" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css">-->
<style>
  .red-text {
    color: red;
  }

  h2 {
    font-family: Lobster, monospace;
  }

  p {
    font-size: 16px;
    font-family: monospace;
  }
</style>

<h2 class="red-text">CatPhotoApp</h2>
<main>
  <p class="red-text">Click here to view more <a href="#">cat photos</a>.</p>
  
  <a href="#"><img src="https://cdn.freecodecamp.org/curriculum/cat-photo-app/relaxing-cat.jpg" alt="A cute orange cat lying on its back."></a>
  
  <div>
    <p>Things cats love:</p>
    <ul>
      <li>cat nip</li>
      <li>laser pointers</li>
      <li>lasagna</li>
    </ul>
    <p>Top 3 things cats hate:</p>
    <ol>
      <li>flea treatment</li>
      <li>thunder</li>
      <li>other cats</li>
    </ol>
  </div>
  
  <form action="https://freecatphotoapp.com/submit-cat-photo">
    <label><input type="radio" name="indoor-outdoor" checked> Indoor</label>
    <label><input type="radio" name="indoor-outdoor"> Outdoor</label><br>
    <label><input type="checkbox" name="personality" checked> Loving</label>
    <label><input type="checkbox" name="personality"> Lazy</label>
    <label><input type="checkbox" name="personality"> Energetic</label><br>
    <input type="text" placeholder="cat photo URL" required>
    <button type="submit">Submit</button>
  </form>
</main>
```