Q: How does Mac OS X deal with fonts? They seem to be all over the place.

Q: How does Mac OS X deal with fonts? They seem to be all over the place. Answer. Mac OS X has multiple Fonts folders. Where a font is filed determines when and who can use it. This list tells you where fonts are filed and how they are used. For more complete information, see Apple's Knowledge Base Article 106417 from which this information has been excerpted. "User" Folder: ~/Library/Fonts/ Note: The tilde character (~) represents a user's Home, which may be local or remote. Description: Each user has complete control over the fonts installed in her Home. These fonts are available to that user when she is logged in to the computer. Fonts installed here are not available to all users of the computer.. "Local" Folder: /Library/Fonts/ Description: Any local user of the computer can use fonts installed in this folder. Mac OS X does not require these additional fonts for system operation. An Admin user can modify the contents of this folder. This is the recommended location for fonts that are shared among applications.. "Network" Folder: /Network/Library/Fonts/ Description: The Network folder is for fonts shared among all users of a local area network. This feature is normally used on network file servers, under the control of a network administrator.. "System" Folder: /System/Library/Fonts/ Description: Mac OS X requires fonts in this folder for system use and displays. They should not be altered or removed.. "Classic" Folder: /System Folder/Fonts/ Description: This folder contains fonts used by the Classic environment. If more than one Mac OS 9.1 System Folder is present, only fonts in the System Folder selected in the Classic pane of System Preferences are used. Classic applications can access only these fonts, not those stored elsewhere. Conversely, Mac OS X applications can use these fonts, even when the Classic environment is not active..