How do PNG and GIFcompare? Here's everything you need to know to choose the right format — and how to convert between them.
Portable Network Graphics
PNG is a lossless image format that supports transparency. It was created as an improved, non-patented replacement for GIF. PNG is ideal for graphics, logos, screenshots, and any image where quality preservation is critical.
Graphics Interchange Format
GIF is a widely recognized format best known for animated images and short loops. While limited to 256 colors, GIF's animation support and universal compatibility make it a staple of web culture.
| Specification | PNG | GIF |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Portable Network Graphics | Graphics Interchange Format |
| Extension | .png | .gif |
| MIME type | image/png | image/gif |
| Category | Image | Image |
| Developer | PNG Development Group | CompuServe |
| Year introduced | 1996 | 1987 |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossy |
Both PNG and GIF have their strengths. PNG excels at website graphics and logos, while GIF is better for animated images and memes.
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