Core fonts refer to a set of fonts that were originally developed by Microsoft for use in their operating systems. They include commonly-used fonts such as Arial, Times New Roman, and Courier New. While these fonts were initially only available to Microsoft users, they were later made available to other operating systems as well. The Core fonts have become widely used due to their reliability, readability, and compatibility across different platforms. They are commonly used in various types of documents, including web pages, presentations, and printed materials.