Image format
The GIF format
GIF is a 256-color image format best known for short looping animations. CompuServe introduced GIF in 1987; the 1989 revision added the animation and transparency it is known for.
When to use GIF
Use GIF for a few seconds of silent animation that has to play inline everywhere, including in email clients that block video.
It is best for short, silent loops and reaction images, and it opens on every browser, chat app, phone and computer.
How to open it: Open it in any browser to see it animate; most photo viewers show only the first frame.
| Full name | Graphics Interchange Format |
|---|---|
| Extensions | .gif |
| MIME type | image/gif |
| Introduced | 1987 |
| Compression | Lossless |
| Transparency | Yes |
| Animation | Yes |
| Support | Opens everywhere |
| Typical size | A five-second animation can easily pass 10 MB |
Good at
- Animation that plays everywhere, including email
- Simple on/off transparency
Not so good at
- Only 256 colors per frame, so photos look grainy
- Animations get very large very quickly
- No sound, and no soft transparent edges
The common mistake
A few seconds of video as GIF is often ten times the size of the same clip as MP4, because GIF compresses each frame as a separate picture.
Convert GIF to another image format
Turn a GIF into a video
Convert to GIF from
Questions
What is a GIF file?
GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) is a 256-color image format best known for short looping animations. CompuServe introduced GIF in 1987; the 1989 revision added the animation and transparency it is known for.
How do I open a GIF file?
Open it in any browser to see it animate; most photo viewers show only the first frame.
How do I convert GIF to another format?
Pick the target on this page, or open the Image Converter, drop the GIF file and choose a format. It converts in your browser, so nothing is uploaded.