~600+ free icons, Solid style only, broad compatibility
FontAwesome 4 is one of the most influential versions in icon library history, known for its simple CSS framework and rich icon set. Though discontinued, it is still widely used in many legacy projects.
Just use the fa fa-icon-name class, zero learning cost.
Compatible with IE8+ and all major browsers, ideal for legacy projects.
Classic icon design style, 600+ icons for basic needs.
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/font-awesome/4.7.0/css/font-awesome.min.css"><link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/[email protected]/css/font-awesome.min.css"><link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdn.staticfile.net/font-awesome/4.7.0/css/font-awesome.min.css">npm install [email protected]FontAwesome 4 holds an irreplaceable classic status in icon library history. First released in 2014, it quickly became the de facto standard, with virtually every website using it. v4's widespread adoption came from its pioneering simplification of icon usage into a single CSS class name: just add fa fa-icon-name to an HTML element and the icon appears instantly. This zero-learning-curve approach dramatically lowered the barrier to using icons, making it easy for both designers and developers. v4 defined a generation's habits for web icons and laid a solid foundation for subsequent versions. Even today, tens of thousands of legacy websites depend on v4 running stably.
FontAwesome 4 is known for its excellent compatibility, which is why many projects still use it:
If still using v4 and considering upgrade, follow these steps for a smooth transition:
First, catalog all v4 icons used in the project, recording their location and context. Use automated scripts to scan codebase for fa fa- classes and generate a complete inventory.
Use FontAwesome official v4 to v5 name mapping table to update icon names. v5/v6 naming conventions differ from v4, so careful comparison is needed.
No need to complete all replacements at once. Keep both v4 and v5/v6 references during migration, gradually transition pages and components, and remove v4 dependencies only after verification.
After completion, perform comprehensive regression testing focusing on icon display and interaction. Use screenshot comparison tools for visual consistency.