Image Format Directory & Master Comparison
Compare specifications, compression algorithms, browser compatibility, and ideal use cases across all major digital image formats.
Explore Major Image Formats
Select any image format below to read in-depth specifications, architectural history, and conversion pathways.
JPG (or JPEG) is the world’s most widespread lossy image format, universally supported across all devices, cameras, and software.
PNG is the open standard for lossless raster graphics with support for full alpha channel transparency and zero generational compression loss.
WebP is Google’s modern web image format offering superior lossy and lossless compression with transparency and animation.
AVIF is the cutting-edge open royalty-free image format based on AV1, providing the highest compression efficiency available today.
SVG is an XML-based vector image format that scales infinitely to any display resolution without losing crispness or clarity.
HEIC is Apple’s default mobile photo container format, compressing photos twice as effectively as traditional JPEG.
GIF is a legacy 8-bit indexed bitmap format famed for bringing animated looping clips to the early World Wide Web.
ICO is the standard container format for website favicons and Microsoft Windows desktop application icons.
TIFF is a professional raster format favored by graphic designers, publishers, and scientific imaging specialists for uncompromised archival quality.
Master Format Specification Matrix
Compare compression types, transparency handling, animation capabilities, and global browser support at a glance.
| Extension | Full Name | Compression Type | Transparency | Animation | Browser Support | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPG | Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) | Lossy (Discrete Cosine Transform) | No (Opaque canvas) | No | 100% Universal (All browsers since 1993) | View → |
| PNG | Portable Network Graphics | Lossless (Deflate / LZ77 + Huffman) | Yes (Full 8-bit Alpha Channel) | APNG (Limited extension) | 100% Universal (All modern web browsers) | View → |
| WEBP | WebP Image Format | Both Lossy (VP8) and Lossless (VP8L) | Yes (Both lossy and lossless alpha) | Yes (Full animated WebP support) | >97% Global (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge) | View → |
| AVIF | AV1 Image File Format | Both Lossy and Lossless (AV1 Video Codec) | Yes (Full alpha channel) | Yes (AVIS animated sequences) | >93% Global (Chrome 85+, Firefox 93+, Safari 16+) | View → |
| SVG | Scalable Vector Graphics | Vector XML code (Compressed via Gzip/Brotli) | Yes (Native transparent canvas) | Yes (CSS & SMIL animations) | 100% Universal (All web browsers) | View → |
| HEIC | High Efficiency Image Container | High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC / H.265) | Yes (Alpha channel and depth maps) | Yes (Live Photos and bursts) | Limited native web support (Requires conversion) | View → |
| GIF | Graphics Interchange Format | Lossless (LZW Compression) | Yes (1-bit binary transparency) | Yes (Multi-frame sequential looping) | 100% Universal (All web browsers since 1987) | View → |
| ICO | Microsoft Windows Icon Resource | Uncompressed DIB or embedded PNG stream | Yes (1-bit mask or 32-bit RGBA alpha) | No | 100% Universal for browser favicons | View → |
| TIFF | Tagged Image File Format | Uncompressed, LZW, ZIP, or PackBits | Yes (Alpha channel supported) | Multi-page document container | Not natively supported by web browsers | View → |