What is the GIF format?
limited to 256 colors, and synonymous with short moving images
- MIME type
- image/gif
- Extensions
- .gif
- Introduced
- 1987
- Compression
- Lossless compression
- Transparency
- Yes
- Animation
- Yes
- Shown directly in browsers
- Yes
- On this site
- Read (input) · Save (output)
Overview
GIF is one of the oldest web image formats, created in 1987, and can use only up to 256 colors per image. The compression itself is lossless, but reducing the colors to 256 makes photos look visibly coarse.
Transparency is on/off only, so semi-transparent shadows can't be represented. GIF output on this site creates a single still image and does not convert animation.
History
GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) was created by CompuServe in 1987 to exchange images over slow modems. The 1989 specification (89a) added transparent colors and animation.
The patent issues around LZW compression that surfaced in the late 1990s led to the creation of PNG, but GIF is still widely used because short moving images play everywhere.
Pros
- The animation standard that plays everywhere
- Small files for simple graphics and icons
Cons
- 256-color limit makes photos look poor
- No semi-transparency (only transparent or opaque)
- The same content as WebP or AVIF is much smaller
Best used for
- Simple logos and pixel art
- Uploading still images to legacy systems that only accept GIF
Compatibility
Opens in all browsers, messengers and online communities.
Convert GIF
Convert from GIF
Convert to GIF
GIF: frequently asked questions
+Which programs can open GIF files?
Opens in all browsers, messengers and online communities.
+Does GIF support transparent backgrounds?
Yes, GIF supports transparent backgrounds. However, it only has two levels: fully transparent or fully opaque (no semi-transparency).
+How do I convert GIF to another format?
Upload your GIF file to AnyPicToAnyPic and pick one of PNG, JPG, WebP, BMP, ICO, SVG. It is converted right in your browser and the file is never uploaded.
+How does GIF compare with JPG in file size?
For the same photo, GIF is roughly 2.5× the JPG size. It varies a lot with image content and quality settings, so check the actual size in the result screen.