Does embedded fonts in css affect performance per usage?

I know there is a performance overhead for loading the font file, but the question is, once it has been downloaded, can I use it freely any number of times on my HTML开发者_C百科 page? or does it add an overhead every time it is being used?

This has got to be the complete guide to font-face performance and optimisation: http://www.stevesouders.com/blog/2009/10/13/font-face-and-performance/

A static file will get downloaded only once per page. You can use firebug or chrome/safari's web inspectors to monitor the http requests. If the page is downloading the file twice, you will see it there.