How do PNG and ICOcompare? 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.
Icon File Format
ICO is the icon file format used by Windows for application icons and website favicons. It can contain multiple image sizes and color depths in a single file.
| Specification | PNG | ICO |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Portable Network Graphics | Icon File Format |
| Extension | .png | .ico |
| MIME type | image/png | image/x-icon |
| Category | Image | Image |
| Developer | PNG Development Group | Microsoft |
| Year introduced | 1996 | 1985 |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless |
Both PNG and ICO have their strengths. PNG excels at website graphics and logos, while ICO is better for website favicons.
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