Bookmark and Share

Image File Formats 2020

Here, I will describe pros and cons of some of the popular image file types, especially for the web.

When we have to choose a format, we have to consider two factors: size and quality which are most of the cases we should sacrifice one for the other.

BMP (.bmp, .dib, .rle)
The BMP file format, sometimes called bitmap or DIB file format (for device-independent bitmap), is an image file format used to store bitmap digital images, especially on Microsoft Windows and OS/2 operating systems.

  • MIME type: image/bmp.
  • BMP Windows bitmap format.
  • Raster image format.
  • Native bitmap format of the Microsoft Windows operating system.
  • BMP is an acronym derived from Bitmap.
  • Binary file format.
  • Represents images as a true color or indexed color raster at a variety of color resolutions.
  • Stores data in uncompressed or run-length encoded form.

GIF (.gif)
GIF can represent up to 256 colors which are in the fixed list of colors instead of encoding color separately. But it's very efficient when we need only couple of colors. GIF provides a full transparencyl and animation which make it popular for the web.

  • MIME type: image/gif.
  • GIF raster image format.
  • Commonly used for static and animated graphics on the web.
  • GIF is an acronym for Graphics Interchange Format.
  • Binary format.
  • Uses LZW lossless compression after restriction to an 8-bit color palette.
  • Supports transparency.
  • Developed in 1987 by CompuServe.

JPEG (.jpg, .jpeg)
The best type of image file for photographic quality. But it's lossy. It means if you edit, the quality degrades if not much when you do it once or twice. JPEG images are very efficient file format when wide range of colors is required and it's highly compressive file format.

  • MIME type: image/jpeg.
  • JPEG raster image and compression format.
  • Commonly used for photographic images by digital cameras and on the web.
  • JPEG is an acronym for Joint Photographic Experts Group.
  • Stores images as bitmaps at a resolution of 8 bits per color channel.
  • Binary format.
  • Uses a lossy compression method based on an 8x8 block-sized discrete cosine transform.
  • Supports different compression levels.

PNG (.png)
PNG offers two modes: full-color images (JPEG) or indexed image (GIF). PNG does not support animation but it has partial transparency as well as full transparency.

  • MIME type: image/png.
  • PNG raster image format.
  • Commonly used for graphics and photographic images on the web.
  • PNG is an acronym for Portable Network Graphics.
  • Binary format.
  • Stores a single image.
  • Stores color bitmaps at a resolution of 8 or 16 bits per channel.
  • Grayscale images are represented at a depth of 1, 2, 4, 8 or 16 bits per pixel.
  • Supports alpha channels for 8-bit and 16-bit RGB and grayscale images.
  • Has support for color-reduction palettes using up to 256 8-bit RGB colors.
  • Developed in 1995 as an open and patent-free alternative to the GIF format.
  • Published as international standard ISO/IEC 15948:2003 and ISO/IEC 15948:2004.

SVG (.svg, .svgz)
Scalable Vector Graphics is gaining popularity on the web. Another vector graphics are PDF and PostScript.
Note on svgz: SVG images, being XML, contain many repeated fragments of text and are thus particularly suited to compression by gzip. Once an SVG image has been compressed by gzip, it may be referred to as an "*.svgz" image. The resulting file may be as small as 20% of the original size. How to uncompress svgz? or How to open it? gunzip it? Well, it may work. I prefer to "Copy SVG" with right mouse click on svg picture after opening it with Adobe Viewer plugged in IE and get a clipboard source.

  • MIME type: image/svg+xml.
  • SVG vector graphics format.
  • Intended for two-dimensional vector graphics on the web.
  • Partially supported by several web browsers and browser plug-ins.
  • SVG is an acronym for Scalable Vector Graphics.
  • XML-based text format.
  • Can represent static and animated graphics.
  • Supports RGB color with an optional alpha channel.
  • Developed by the W3C SVG Working Group since 1998.

SWF (.swf)

The file format SWF (pronounced swiff or "swoof", originally standing for "Small Web Format", later changed to "Shockwave Flash" by Macromedia, then again changed back to Small Web Format when the company chose to have the phrase "Shockwave" only refer to Director) is a partially open repository for multimedia and especially for vector graphics, originated with FutureWave Software and has come under the control of Adobe. (from wiki)

  • MIME type: application/x-shockwave-flash.
  • Adobe/Macromedia Flash file format.
  • Used for interactive and animated vector graphics, video and sound on the web.
  • SWF is an acronym derived from Shockwave Flash.
  • SWF files are normally embedded in HTML and played by a browser plug-in.

 


Audio File Format

Other File Formats

AIFF (.aif, .aiff, .aifc)
Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF) is an audio file format standard used for storing sound data for personal computers and other electronic audio devices. The format was co-developed by Apple Computer in 1988 based on Electronic Arts' Interchange File Format (IFF, widely used on Amiga systems) and is most commonly used on Apple Macintosh computer systems.

  • MIME types: audio/aiff, audio/x-aiff, audio/x-aifc.
  • AIFF digital audio format.
  • Commonly used in professional audio processing applications and on Macintosh.
  • AIFF is an acronym for Audio Interchange File Format.
  • Binary file format.
  • Stores audio data in uncompressed mono or stereo waveforms.
  • Supports a variety of bit resolutions and sample rates.
  • Developed in 1988 by Apple and others.

AVI (.avi)
Audio Video Interleave, known by its acronym AVI, is a multimedia container format introduced by Microsoft in November 1992 as part of its Video for Windows technology. AVI files can contain both audio and video data in a file container that allows synchronous audio-with-video playback. Like the DVD video format, AVI files support multiple streaming audio and video, although these features are seldom used. Most AVI files also use the file format extensions developed by the Matrox OpenDML group in February 1996. These files are supported by Microsoft, and are unofficially called "AVI 2.0".

  • MIME type: video/avi.
  • Microsoft AVI format.
  • Multimedia container format.
  • Commonly used for archiving and exchanging video content.
  • Stores audio and video content in a format suitable for synchronous playback.
  • AVI is an acronym for Audio Video Interleave.
  • Binary format.
  • Supports a variety of audio and video codecs as well as uncompressed video frames.
  • Introduced in 1992 by Microsoft.

EPS (.eps, .epsf)
Encapsulated PostScript is a DSC -conforming PostScript document with additional restrictions intended to make EPS files usable as a graphics file format.

  • MIME types: application/postscript, application/eps, application/x-eps, image/eps, image/x-eps.
  • EPS page description language and file format.
  • Commonly used in 2D vector graphics and page layout applications.
  • Self-contained PostScript fragment, suitable for inclusion in other documents.
  • EPS is an acronym derived from Encapsulated PostScript.
  • Plain text format.
  • Stores text and vector graphics using the PostScript language.
  • Can include fonts and embedded raster graphics.
  • Supports various color encodings, including monochrome, grayscale, RGB, and CMYK.
  • Precursor to PDF.
  • PostScript was introduced in 1984 by Adobe.

FLV (.flv)
Flash Video files have a .flv file extension and are either used from within .swf files or played through a flv-aware player, such as VLC, or QuickTime and Windows Media Player with external codecs added.

  • MIME type: video/x-flv
  • Adobe/Macromedia Flash video file.
  • Used for compositing Flash animations with Flash authoring software, or for playback through a Flash-based video player.
  • FLV is an acronym derived from Flash Video.

HTML (.html, .htm)
HTML, which stands for Hyper Text Markup Language, is the predominant markup language for web pages. It provides a means to create structured documents by denoting structural semantics for text such as headings, paragraphs, lists etc as well as for links, quotes, and other items.

  • MIME type: text/html.
  • HTML markup language and file format.
  • Predominant language for the creation of web pages.
  • HTML is an acronym derived from Hypertext Markup Language.
  • Plain text format.
  • Describes the structure and aspects of the appearance of web pages.
  • First published in 1993 as an Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) working draft.
  • Maintained since 1996 by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
  • Most recent version is 4.01, published in 1999 as W3C recommendation.
  • International standard ISO/IEC 15445:2000.
  • Predecessor of XHTML.

MathML (.mml)
Mathematical Markup Language (MathML) is an application of XML for describing mathematical notations and capturing both its structure and content. It aims at integrating mathematical formulae into World Wide Web documents. It is a recommendation of the W3C math working group.

  • MIME type: text/mathml, application/mathml+xml.
  • MathML mathematical markup language.
  • Used for integrating mathematical formulas in web documents.
  • Rendering of embedded MathML is supported by a number of browsers and browser additions.
  • Specifies the presentation and the semantic content of mathematical formulas.
  • XML-based format.
  • Based on a draft that was derived from the Mathematica typesetting language.
  • Introduced in 1999 and updated in 2003 by the W3C math working group.

MIDI (.mid)
MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is an industry-standard protocol defined in 1982 that enables electronic musical instruments such as keyboard controllers, computers, and other electronic equipment to communicate, control, and synchronize with each other.
MIDI allows computers, synthesizers, MIDI controllers, sound cards, samplers and drum machines to control one another, and to exchange system data.

  • MIME type: audio/midi.
  • Standard MIDI file format.
  • Audio format.
  • Used for controlling electronic musical instruments, computer sound cards and sequencers.
  • Stores a sequence of discrete sound events such as the beginning and end of a note, velocity and timbre information, and instrument and sound bank codes.
  • MIDI is an acronym for Musical Instrument Digital Interface.
  • Binary file format.
  • Introduced in 1983.
  • Developed and published by the MIDI Manufacturers Association (U.S.) and the Association of Musical Electronic Industry MIDI committee (Japan).

PDF (.pdf)
Adobe PDF format (.pdf)

  • MIME type: application/pdf.
  • Adobe Acrobat format.
  • Standard format for exchanging and archiving multi-page documents.
  • PDF is an acronym for Portable Document Format.
  • Binary file format.
  • Stores text, fonts, images, and 2D vector graphics in a device- and resolution-independent way.
  • Can also store embedded raster images.
  • Supports multiple lossy and lossless compression methods.

PICT (.pict, .pct, .pic)
PICT is a graphics file format introduced on the original Apple Macintosh computer as its standard metafile format

  • MIME type: image/pict.
  • Macintosh graphics format.
  • Was the original metafile format of the Apple Macintosh.
  • PICT is an acronym derived from Picture.
  • Can store raster images and vector graphics.
  • Binary format.
  • Developed in 1984 by Apple.

QuickTime (.mov, .qt)
QuickTime is a proprietary multimedia framework developed by Apple, capable of handling various formats of digital video, media clips, sound, text, animation, music, and interactive panoramic images.

  • MIME type: video/quicktime.
  • Apple QuickTime file format.
  • Multimedia container format.
  • Commonly used for archiving and exchanging video content.
  • Stores audio and video content in a format suitable for synchronous playback.
  • Binary format.
  • Supports a variety of audio and video codecs as well as uncompressed video frames.
  • Introduced in 1991 by Apple.

RSS (.rss)
RSS (most commonly expanded as "Really Simple Syndication") is a family of web feed formats used to publish frequently updated works.

  • MIME type: application/rss+xml.
  • RSS web syndication format.
  • Commonly used to transmit frequently updated web content to feed readers or news aggregators.
  • RSS is an acronym for Really Simple Syndication.
  • Stores names, addresses, and other contact information.
  • XML-based format.
  • Stores news headlines together with date information and web links.
  • Introduced in 1999 by Netscape under the name RDF Site Summary.

TIFF (.tiff, .tif)
Tagged Image File Format (abbreviated TIFF) is a file format for storing images, including photographs and line art. As of 2009, it is under the control of Adobe Systems.

  • MIME type: image/tiff.
  • TIFF raster image format.
  • Commonly used in image manipulation applications, page layout applications, scanners and other imaging devices, and for the archiving of images.
  • Suitable for high-color-depth images.
  • TIFF is an acronym for Tagged Image File Format.
  • Binary format.
  • Supports multiple color resolutions, color encodings, and compression methods.
  • Supports arbitrary bit depths of up to 16 bits per channel, and also 32 bits per channel.
  • Can store multiple images.
  • Supports alpha channels.
  • Introduced in the 1980s by Aldus as a standard format for desktop scanners.

WAV (.wav)
WAV WAVE or WAV, short for Waveform Audio File Format is a Microsoft and IBM audio file format.

  • MIME type: audio/x-wav.
  • Microsoft WAV audio format.
  • Used for storage and interchange of audio data on Windows, in audio recording and processing, and on the web.
  • Binary file format.
  • Known as wave form audio format.
  • Variant of the Microsoft RIFF bitstream format.
  • Typically stores uncompressed sampled audio as pulse-code modulation (PCM) data.
  • Also supports several codecs for compressed audio.
  • Supports arbitrary sampling frequency, arbitrary number of channels, and arbitrary bit depth.
  • Stores up to 4 GB of audio data in a single file.

WMF (.wmf)
Windows Metafile: Graphics file format on Microsoft Windows systems, originally designed in the early 1990s.

  • Microsoft WMF format.
  • Image file format.
  • Used by the Windows operating system and by Microsoft applications as a graphics resource format.
  • WMF is an acronym derived from Windows Metafile.
  • Binary format.
  • Stores vector graphics, raster graphics, and text.
  • Stores image data as either calls to the Windows graphical device interface (GDI), uncompressed Device Dependent Bitmaps, or uncompressed Device Independent Bitmaps.
  • Predecessor of the 32-bit EMF format.
  • Developed by Microsoft as part of Windows 95.

X3D (.x3d)
X3D is the ISO standard XML-based file format for representing 3D computer graphics, the successor to the Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML). X3D features extensions to VRML (e.g. Humanoid Animation, NURBS, GeoVRML etc.), the ability to encode the scene using an XML syntax as well as the Open Inventor-like syntax of VRML97, or binary formatting, and enhanced application programming interfaces (APIs).

  • MIME type: model/x3d+xml.
  • Web3D geometry format.
  • Used for distributing 3D models on the web and in media applications.
  • XML format.
  • Can store multiple geometries.
  • Introduced in 2003, maintained by the Web3D Consortium.
  • Successor of the VRML format.

XHTML (.html, .htm, .xhtml, .xht, .xml)
XHTML (Extensible Hypertext Markup Language) is a family of XML markup languages that mirror or extend versions of the widely used Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), the language in which web pages are written.

  • MIME type: application/xhtml+xml.
  • XHTML markup language and file format.
  • XML-based reformulation of HTML.
  • XHTML is an acronym derived from Extensible Hypertext Markup Language.
  • Plain text XML format.
  • Describes the structure and aspects of the appearance of web pages.
  • Successor of HTML.
  • Published as a W3C recommendation in 2001.