How to know if a font (@font-face) has already been loaded?

Now on GitHub: https://github.com/patrickmarabeas/jQuery-FontSpy.js

Essentially the method works by comparing the width of a string in two different fonts. We are using Comic Sans as the font to test against, because it is the most different of the web safe fonts and hopefully different enough to any custom font you will be using. Additionally we are using a very large font-size so even small differences will be apparent. When the width of the Comic Sans string has been calculated, the font-family is changed to your custom font, with a fallback to Comic Sans. When checked, if the string element width is the same, the fallback font of Comic Sans is still in use. If not, your font should be operational.

I rewrote the method of font load detection into a jQuery plugin designed to give the developer the ability to style elements based upon whether the font has been loaded or not. A fail safe timer has been added so the user isn’t left without content if the custom font fails to load. That’s just bad usability.

I have also added greater control over what happens during font loading and on fail with the inclusion of classes addition and removal. You can now do whatever you like to the font. I would only recommend modifying the fonts size, line spacing, etc to get your fall back font as close to the custom as possible so your layout stays intact, and users get an expected experience.

Here’s a demo: http://patrickmarabeas.github.io/jQuery-FontSpy.js

Throw the following into a .js file and reference it.

(function($) {

    $.fontSpy = function( element, conf ) {
        var $element = $(element);
        var defaults = {
            font: $element.css("font-family"),
            onLoad: '',
            onFail: '',
            testFont: 'Comic Sans MS',
            testString: 'QW@HhsXJ',
            delay: 50,
            timeOut: 2500
        };
        var config = $.extend( defaults, conf );
        var tester = document.createElement('span');
            tester.style.position = 'absolute';
            tester.style.top = '-9999px';
            tester.style.left="-9999px";
            tester.style.visibility = 'hidden';
            tester.style.fontFamily = config.testFont;
            tester.style.fontSize="250px";
            tester.innerHTML = config.testString;
        document.body.appendChild(tester);
        var fallbackFontWidth = tester.offsetWidth;
        tester.style.fontFamily = config.font + ',' + config.testFont;
        function checkFont() {
            var loadedFontWidth = tester.offsetWidth;
            if (fallbackFontWidth === loadedFontWidth){
                if(config.timeOut < 0) {
                    $element.removeClass(config.onLoad);
                    $element.addClass(config.onFail);
                    console.log('failure');
                }
                else {
                    $element.addClass(config.onLoad);
                    setTimeout(checkFont, config.delay);
                    config.timeOut = config.timeOut - config.delay;
                }
            }
            else {
                $element.removeClass(config.onLoad);
            }
        }
        checkFont();
    };

    $.fn.fontSpy = function(config) {
        return this.each(function() {
            if (undefined == $(this).data('fontSpy')) {
                var plugin = new $.fontSpy(this, config);
                $(this).data('fontSpy', plugin);
            }
        });
    };

})(jQuery);

Apply it to your project

.bannerTextChecked {
        font-family: "Lobster";
        /* don't specify fallback font here, do this in onFail class */
}

$(document).ready(function() {

    $('.bannerTextChecked').fontSpy({
        onLoad: 'hideMe',
        onFail: 'fontFail anotherClass'
    });

});

Remove that FOUC!

.hideMe {
    visibility: hidden !important;
}

.fontFail {
    visibility: visible !important;
    /* fall back font */
    /* necessary styling so fallback font doesn't break your layout */
}

EDIT: FontAwesome compatibility removed as it didn’t work properly and ran into issues with different versions. A hacky fix can be found here: https://github.com/patrickmarabeas/jQuery-FontFaceSpy.js/issues/1