Fix Hyperref URL Font Issue With Babel And Babelfont

Aug 15, 2025 by Kenji Nakamura 53 views

$Hyperref's \url Typesets in the Wrong Font When Using with \babelfont Discussion$

Introduction

In this comprehensive article, we will delve into a peculiar issue encountered when using the hyperref package in conjunction with babel and babelfont in LaTeX. Specifically, we will address the problem where the \url command within hyperref typesets URLs in the incorrect font, particularly when dealing with multilingual documents involving languages like Thai and English. This is a critical issue for documents requiring precise typographic control and consistent font usage across different languages and elements. Guys, ensuring that your URLs are displayed correctly is super important for readability and maintaining a professional look in your documents.

This article aims to provide a detailed explanation of the problem, a reproducible example, and potential solutions to ensure that URLs are rendered in the intended font, maintaining the document's visual consistency. Whether you're working on academic papers, technical documentation, or any other document requiring multilingual support and URL typesetting, this guide will help you navigate this common pitfall. So, let's dive in and figure out how to fix this font hiccup!

Understanding the Problem

The core issue arises when the hyperref package, responsible for creating hyperlinks in LaTeX documents, interacts with the babel and babelfont packages, which manage language settings and font configurations. When these packages are used together, the \url command, which is designed to typeset URLs, sometimes fails to inherit the font settings specified by babelfont for a particular language. This typically manifests as URLs being rendered in the default LaTeX font (usually Computer Modern) instead of the desired font, such as STIX Two Text in our example.

This discrepancy can be particularly jarring in multilingual documents where different fonts are specified for different languages to ensure legibility and aesthetic consistency. For instance, if you're writing a document in English with interspersed Thai text, and you've specified STIX Two Text for English and another font for Thai, URLs might stubbornly appear in the default font, disrupting the visual harmony. Imagine spending hours crafting a beautiful document, only to have your URLs stick out like a sore thumb because they're in the wrong font! It's not just about aesthetics, though. Consistent font usage is crucial for maintaining a professional and polished look in your documents.

The problem is rooted in how hyperref handles font assignments for URLs and how this interacts with the font switching mechanisms of babel and babelfont. These packages manipulate LaTeX's internal font selection commands, and sometimes the \url command gets caught in the crossfire, failing to pick up the correct font context. This can lead to a frustrating situation where your carefully chosen fonts are ignored for URLs, resulting in a less-than-ideal visual presentation. We need to dig a little deeper to see why this happens and, more importantly, how to fix it. So, let's get our hands dirty with some LaTeX code and explore the issue in detail.

Minimal Working Example (MWE)

To illustrate the problem, consider the following Minimal Working Example (MWE). This code snippet demonstrates the issue by setting up a multilingual document environment with English and Thai, specifying different fonts for each language, and then using the \url command to insert a URL. The goal is to show how the URL might not render in the expected font. This is where we get down to brass tacks, guys. Let's look at the code:

\documentclass{article}

\usepackage{babel}
\babelprovide[main,import,alph=alphabetic]{thai}
\babelprovide[onchar=ids fonts]{english}
\babelfont[english]{rm}{STIX Two Text}
\usepackage{hyperref}

\begin{document}
\section*{Example}

This is an English sentence with a URL: \url{https://www.example.com}.

\end{document}

In this example:

We load the babel package to handle multilingual typesetting.
We specify Thai and English as languages, with English set as the main language.
We use \babelfont to set the roman font for English to STIX Two Text.
We include the hyperref package for creating hyperlinks.
Finally, we insert a URL using the \url command within an English sentence.

When you compile this document, you might observe that the URL https://www.example.com is not typeset in STIX Two Text, but rather in the default Computer Modern font. This discrepancy highlights the issue we're addressing. The \babelfont command should ideally ensure that all text within the English language context, including URLs, is rendered in the specified font. However, the interaction between hyperref and babel sometimes prevents this from happening.

By providing this MWE, we have a clear and reproducible example of the problem. This allows us to test different solutions and verify whether they effectively address the font issue. In the next sections, we will explore potential solutions and techniques to ensure that URLs are typeset in the correct font, maintaining the desired visual consistency in our documents. So, keep this code handy, because we're going to use it to test out some fixes!

Potential Solutions

Now that we've identified the problem and have a clear example, let's explore some potential solutions to ensure that the \url command typesets URLs in the correct font when used with babel and babelfont. Several approaches can be taken, each with its own advantages and considerations. We'll walk through a few of the most common and effective methods, giving you the tools you need to tackle this font issue head-on. Think of this as our troubleshooting toolkit – we're going to try out different wrenches and screwdrivers until we find the one that fits!

1. Using the `url` Package Directly

One straightforward solution is to load the url package directly, before loading hyperref. The url package provides the basic functionality for typesetting URLs, and when loaded before hyperref, it can sometimes help hyperref correctly inherit the font settings. This is often the first thing people try, and it can be surprisingly effective. It's like making sure you have the foundation in place before building the house.

Here’s how you can modify the MWE to include the url package:

\documentclass{article}

\usepackage{babel}
\babelprovide[main,import,alph=alphabetic]{thai}
\babelprovide[onchar=ids fonts]{english}
\babelfont[english]{rm}{STIX Two Text}
\usepackage{url} % Load url package before hyperref
\usepackage{hyperref}

\begin{document}
\section*{Example}

This is an English sentence with a URL: \url{https://www.example.com}.

\end{document}

By loading url first, we ensure that its font handling mechanisms are established before hyperref comes into play. This can often resolve the issue where hyperref fails to pick up the correct font settings. However, this method isn't foolproof and may not work in all cases, especially with more complex document setups. But hey, it's worth a shot, right? It's a simple fix that can sometimes save the day.

2. Configuring `hyperref` with Font Options

Another approach involves configuring hyperref with specific font options. The package provides several options that allow you to control how URLs are typeset, including font selection. By explicitly setting the font for URLs within hyperref's options, you can override any conflicting settings and ensure that URLs are rendered in the desired font. This is like taking direct control of the font destiny of your URLs!

You can modify the \usepackage{hyperref} command to include font options like this:

\documentclass{article}

\usepackage{babel}
\babelprovide[main,import,alph=alphabetic]{thai}
\babelprovide[onchar=ids fonts]{english}
\babelfont[english]{rm}{STIX Two Text}
\usepackage[urlcolor=blue,urlbordercolor=blue]{hyperref} % Configure hyperref with font options

\begin{document}
\section*{Example}

This is an English sentence with a URL: \url{https://www.example.com}.

\end{document}

In this example, we've added urlcolor=blue and urlbordercolor=blue to the hyperref options. While these options primarily control the color of URLs, they can also influence font handling. Sometimes, simply specifying these options can nudge hyperref into using the correct font. It's a bit of a roundabout way to do it, but hey, if it works, it works!

However, this method is not always reliable for explicitly setting the font. A more direct approach involves using the \urlstyle command, which we'll discuss in the next section. So, let's move on and explore how \urlstyle can give us even finer control over URL fonts.

3. Using `\urlstyle` to Set the Font

The \urlstyle command provides a more direct way to control the font used for URLs. This command allows you to specify a particular font style for URLs, overriding any default settings or conflicts arising from the interaction between hyperref and babel. This is like having a laser-focused tool that lets you pinpoint exactly how you want your URLs to look. If the previous methods were like using a wrench, this is like using a precision screwdriver!

To use \urlstyle, you can add the following line to your document preamble:

\documentclass{article}

\usepackage{babel}
\babelprovide[main,import,alph=alphabetic]{thai}
\babelprovide[onchar=ids fonts]{english}
\babelfont[english]{rm}{STIX Two Text}
\usepackage{hyperref}
\urlstyle{same} % Use the same font as the surrounding text

\begin{document}
\section*{Example}

This is an English sentence with a URL: \url{https://www.example.com}.

\end{document}

Here, \urlstyle{same} instructs hyperref to use the same font as the surrounding text for URLs. This can be particularly effective in ensuring that URLs inherit the font specified by \babelfont. Other options for \urlstyle include tt (typesetting URLs in a typewriter-like font) and rm (typesetting URLs in the roman font), but same is often the most appropriate choice when you want URLs to blend seamlessly with the rest of your text.

This method offers a more targeted solution compared to simply loading the url package or using hyperref options. It gives you explicit control over the font style applied to URLs, making it a reliable way to address font inconsistencies. However, in some complex scenarios, even \urlstyle might not be sufficient, and you might need to resort to more advanced techniques, which we'll explore next. So, let's keep moving and see what other tricks we have up our sleeves!

4. Using Fontspec with XeLaTeX or LuaLaTeX

If you're using XeLaTeX or LuaLaTeX as your LaTeX engine, you have access to the powerful fontspec package. fontspec provides a more modern and flexible way to manage fonts in LaTeX, and it can often resolve font-related issues more effectively than traditional methods. This is like upgrading from a regular car to a high-performance sports car – you get a lot more power and control! If you're not familiar with XeLaTeX or LuaLaTeX, it might seem a bit daunting, but trust me, it's worth the effort, especially for complex documents.

Here’s how you can modify the MWE to use fontspec:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{fontspec}
\usepackage{babel}
\babelprovide[main,import,alph=alphabetic]{thai}
\babelprovide[onchar=ids fonts]{english}
\babelfont[english]{rm}{STIX Two Text}
\usepackage{hyperref}

\begin{document}
\section*{Example}

This is an English sentence with a URL: \url{https://www.example.com}.

\end{document}

To use this approach, you'll need to compile your document with XeLaTeX or LuaLaTeX instead of the traditional pdfLaTeX. fontspec automatically handles font loading and switching, often resolving conflicts between hyperref and babel. This is because fontspec interacts with the font system at a lower level, giving it more control over font selection.

While fontspec is a powerful tool, it does require a shift in your LaTeX workflow. You'll need to ensure that your fonts are installed correctly on your system and that you're using a LaTeX engine that supports fontspec. However, the benefits in terms of font management and flexibility can be significant, especially for multilingual documents or documents with complex typographic requirements. So, if you're still struggling with font issues, consider making the switch to XeLaTeX or LuaLaTeX and giving fontspec a try. It might just be the magic bullet you've been looking for!

5. Defining a Custom URL Command

In some cases, the standard \url command might not provide enough flexibility to handle complex font scenarios. If you've tried the previous solutions and are still facing issues, you can define a custom URL command that explicitly sets the font. This approach gives you the most control over how URLs are typeset, allowing you to tailor the command to your specific needs. Think of this as building your own custom tool – you can make it exactly the way you want it!

Here’s an example of how you can define a custom URL command:

\documentclass{article}

\usepackage{babel}
\babelprovide[main,import,alph=alphabetic]{thai}
\babelprovide[onchar=ids fonts]{english}
\babelfont[english]{rm}{STIX Two Text}
\usepackage{hyperref}

\newcommand{\myurl}[1]{\fontfamily{STIXTwoText-Regular}\selectfont\href{#1}{#1}}

\begin{document}
\section*{Example}

This is an English sentence with a URL: \myurl{https://www.example.com}.

\end{document}

In this example, we define a new command \myurl that takes a URL as an argument. Inside the command, we explicitly set the font family to STIXTwoText-Regular (you might need to adjust this depending on your font setup) and then use \href from hyperref to create the hyperlink. This ensures that the URL is typeset in the specified font, regardless of any conflicting settings.

This method is the most labor-intensive, but it also offers the greatest control. By defining your own URL command, you can bypass any issues arising from the interaction between hyperref and babel and ensure that URLs are always typeset exactly as you intend. However, it's important to note that this approach requires a good understanding of LaTeX font commands and might not be necessary for most common scenarios. But if you're dealing with a particularly stubborn font issue, this could be the solution you need. So, don't be afraid to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty with some custom LaTeX code!

Conclusion

In this article, we've explored a common issue in LaTeX where the \url command fails to typeset URLs in the correct font when used with babel and babelfont. We've discussed several potential solutions, ranging from simple fixes like loading the url package before hyperref to more advanced techniques like using fontspec or defining a custom URL command. Each method has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the best approach will depend on the specific requirements of your document and your level of comfort with LaTeX font management.

Remember, the key to resolving font issues in LaTeX is understanding how different packages interact and having a toolkit of potential solutions at your disposal. By working through the methods outlined in this article, you should be well-equipped to tackle font inconsistencies and ensure that your URLs are typeset correctly, maintaining the visual integrity of your documents. So, go forth and create beautiful, consistent documents, guys! And don't let font issues hold you back. With a little knowledge and perseverance, you can conquer any typographic challenge that comes your way.

If you continue to face difficulties, remember to consult the documentation for the hyperref, babel, and fontspec packages, and don't hesitate to seek help from the LaTeX community. There are plenty of experienced users out there who are willing to share their knowledge and expertise. Happy typesetting!