xfontsel

xfontsel [-toolkitoption ...] [-pattern font_pattern] [-full] [-print] [-info]

-pattern <font_pattern>
    Sets the initial font pattern to display. This allows starting xfontsel with a pre-defined filter for the available fonts, using standard X font wildcards.

-full
    Causes the selected font name to be printed in its complete XLFD form, including the wildcard "any" for unselected fields, rather than just showing the explicitly selected values. This provides a fully specified font name ready for use.

-print
    Prints the final selected font name (XLFD string) to standard output when xfontsel exits. This is particularly useful for scripting or piping the selected font name to other commands or configuration files.

-info
    Displays version and copyright information about xfontsel and then exits immediately. This provides details about the application's build and license.

xfontsel is a graphical utility for the X Window System that provides an interactive way to explore and select fonts known to the X server. It presents various font properties—such as foundry, family, weight, slant, spacing, pixel size, and point size—as selectable fields. Users can choose values for each field from pop-up menus. As selections are made, xfontsel dynamically constructs a complete X Logical Font Description (XLFD) string, which is the standard way X applications specify fonts.

This tool is invaluable for understanding the intricate structure of XLFD names, finding specific fonts available on the system, and debugging font-related issues in older X applications that directly use server-side fonts. It also includes a test area where the selected font can be previewed.

xfontsel primarily interacts with the traditional X server's font database and X Logical Font Descriptions (XLFDs). While still relevant for many X applications and for understanding server-side font capabilities, it may not directly reflect or manage fonts handled by modern font rendering systems like Fontconfig and FreeType, which are commonly used by newer applications and desktop environments on Linux. Its utility is highest for applications that explicitly use server-side fonts or require XLFD specifications.

The primary purpose of xfontsel is to help users construct valid X Logical Font Descriptions (XLFDs). An XLFD is a standardized, dash-separated string that uniquely identifies a font based on 14 properties (e.g., foundry, family, weight, slant, pixel size, point size, character set registry, character set encoding). xfontsel provides interactive selection for each of these fields, making it easy to build precise font specifications without memorizing the complex XLFD syntax.

The xfontsel interface consists of a series of drop-down menus, each corresponding to a specific XLFD property. Users can select values from these menus to filter the available fonts. A 'Test' area displays sample text using the currently selected font. An 'XLFD' field shows the constructed font name, which can be easily copied and used in other X applications (e.g., `xterm -fn `). Buttons for 'Quit', 'Select', 'Clear', and 'Rescan' provide control over the application's behavior and font list.

xfontsel is a venerable utility within the X Window System, originating as part of the core X.Org or XFree86 distributions. It was developed to address the complexity of the X Logical Font Description (XLFD) naming convention, which was the standard method for specifying fonts in X applications for many years. Its development reflects an era where direct interaction with the X server's font capabilities was common and essential. While modern font management has evolved significantly with technologies like Fontconfig, xfontsel remains a key tool for developers and users working with legacy X applications or those still relying on server-side font rendering.

xlsfonts(1), xset(1), xdpyinfo(1), fc-list(1)