What is the difference between the Font and FontMetrics classes

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The FontMetrics class is used to define implementation-specific properties, such as ascent and descent, of aFont object.

In Java, the Font class and the FontMetrics class are related but serve different purposes.

  1. Font Class:
    • The Font class is part of the Java AWT (Abstract Window Toolkit) and is used for representing fonts. It defines a font face, size, and style that can be applied to text rendering in graphical user interfaces.
    • It is responsible for specifying the visual appearance of text, such as the font family (e.g., Arial, Times New Roman), style (plain, bold, italic), and size.
  2. FontMetrics Class:
    • The FontMetrics class is also part of the Java AWT and is used for obtaining various metrics of a font, such as ascent, descent, leading, and width of characters.
    • It provides information about the size and position of characters within a font, which is essential for precise text layout and rendering.

In summary, the Font class deals with specifying the attributes of a font, while the FontMetrics class deals with obtaining metrics and measurements related to the rendering of text using a specific font. They are often used together when working with text in graphical applications to ensure proper layout and alignment.