A font catalog or font catalogue is a collection of specimen

Specimen

A specimen is a portion/quantity of material for use in testing, examination, or study.BiologyA laboratory specimen is an individual animal, part of an animal, a plant, part of a plant, or a microorganism, used as a representative to study the properties of the whole population of that species or...

 of typefaces offering sample use of the fonts for the included typefaces. Usually it is in the form of a printed book. However, the definition can also apply to websites offering a specimens collection similar to what a printed catalog

Catalog

Catalog or catalogue may refer to:In science and technology:*Astronomical catalog, a catalog of astronomical objects**Star catalog, a catalog of stars*Pharmacopoeia, a book containing directions for the preparation of compound medicines...

 provides.

The goal of a font catalog is to aid a typesetter or graphical designer to choose an appropriate typeface or narrow down candidates for the typesetting or design process without having to make expensive or labor intensive proof prints. A font plays also an important role in the selection process of purchasing typefaces.

See also

• Samples of serif typefaces
  Samples of Serif typefaces
  This list of samples of Serif typefaces details standard fonts used in printing, classical typesetting and printing. For a list of the principal serif fonts used in mainstream graphical user interfaces, such as – for example – GNOME on Linux, see Samples of display typefaces, although in reality...
  
  
• Samples of sans serif typefaces
  Samples of Sans Serif typefaces
  -List:* Agency * ITC Avant Garde* Berlin Sans* Countdown * Espy Sans* Estrangelo Edessa* Gautami** Denmark* Kartika * Latha...
  
  
• Samples of monospaced typefaces
  Samples of Monospaced typefaces
  This is a list with samples of monospaced fonts.-See also:*Samples of display typefaces*Samples of simulation typefaces*Samples of sans serif typefaces*Samples of script typefaces*Samples of serif typefaces...
  
  
• Samples of display typefaces
  Samples of display typefaces
  The list of samples of display typefaces summarises the principal fonts used in screen display of characters. The accurate identification of display typefaces is critical in graphic design, web design and forensic computing.-See also:...
  
  
• Samples of script typefaces
  Samples of Script typefaces
  -Calligraphic:-Handwriting:-See also:*Fixedsys*Samples of display typefaces*Samples of monospaced typefaces*Samples of simulation typefaces*Samples of sans serif typefaces*Samples of serif typefaces...