Algorithm for estimating text width based on contents

Question

This is a long shot, but does anyone know of an algorithm for estimating and categorising text width (for a variable width font) based on its contents?

For example, I\'d

Answer 1

For a web application, you cannot (really) get a proper estimation. Different fonts have different widths, so that this not only depends on the client (browser) and its zoom and DPI settings, but also on the fonts present on that machine (and operating system) or their substitutions.

If you need exact measuring, create a graphic (bitmap, SVG, or even some PDF or whatever) which will be layouted and rendered on the server and not on the client.