GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)
GIF is a 256-colour format from 1987 that survives almost entirely because it animates and pastes anywhere.
- File extension
- .gif
- MIME type
- image/gif
- Compression
- Lossless
- Transparency
- Yes, full alpha channel
- Animation
- Yes
- Type
- Raster (pixels)
Where GIF files come from
Memes, reaction images, simple animations and old web graphics.
Universal, and the only animated format that works everywhere.
What GIF is good at
- Animation that plays inline in email, chat and ancient software alike
- Single-colour transparency
- Understood by essentially every piece of software on earth
Where GIF falls short
- Hard limit of 256 colours per frame — photographs come out banded
- Very inefficient file sizes compared with modern formats
- Transparency is on/off only, so edges look jagged
Should you use GIF?
Use it when the image must survive editing and re-saving without degrading, or when transparency matters. Avoid it for large photographs that only need to be viewed, where a lossy format will be a fraction of the size with no visible difference.
Convert from GIF
Convert to GIF
Frequently asked questions
What is GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)?
GIF is a 256-colour format from 1987 that survives almost entirely because it animates and pastes anywhere. Universal, and the only animated format that works everywhere.
How do I open GIF files?
Any tool that lists GIF support will open one. If yours will not, the quickest fix is to convert it to a format your software already understands — the converters linked on this page do that in your browser without uploading the file.
Is GIF lossy or lossless?
GIF is lossless — every pixel is stored exactly, and re-saving it repeatedly costs you nothing in quality. The trade-off is a larger file.
Does GIF support transparency?
Yes, GIF carries a full alpha channel, so soft edges and drop shadows survive intact. Converting to a format without alpha — JPG most commonly — flattens those areas onto a solid colour.