Image format
.ico
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.
MIME type
image/x-icon
Developer
Microsoft
Introduced
1985
Advantages
- Multiple sizes in one file
- Standard for Windows icons and favicons
- Widely supported by all browsers
- Small file sizes
Limitations
- Limited to small image dimensions
- Primarily Windows-focused format
- Being replaced by PNG favicons in modern web
- Complex internal structure for a simple purpose
When to use ICO
Website favicons
Windows application icons
Desktop shortcuts
Taskbar and system tray icons
Technical details
ICO files contain one or more BMP or PNG images at different sizes (typically 16x16, 32x32, 48x48, 256x256). Each image can have its own color depth from 1 to 32 bits per pixel.
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