SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)
SVG is a vector format: the file describes shapes mathematically, so it stays perfectly sharp at any size.
- File extension
- .svg
- MIME type
- image/svg+xml
- Compression
- Lossless
- Transparency
- Yes, full alpha channel
- Animation
- Yes
- Type
- Vector
Where SVG files come from
Logos and icons exported from Figma, Illustrator or Inkscape.
Great in browsers and design tools. Almost every other context — Word, upload forms, print — wants a raster file instead.
What SVG is good at
- Infinitely scalable — one file is crisp on a favicon and a billboard
- Tiny files for logos, icons and diagrams
- Editable as plain text, and styleable with CSS
Where SVG falls short
- Unsuitable for photographs
- Rejected by most upload forms, print shops and office software
- Rendering can differ subtly between programs
Should you use SVG?
Use it wherever the artwork is made of shapes rather than photographs, and wherever it might be displayed at more than one size. Reach for a raster format the moment something outside a browser has to accept the file.
Convert from SVG
Frequently asked questions
What is SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)?
SVG is a vector format: the file describes shapes mathematically, so it stays perfectly sharp at any size. Great in browsers and design tools. Almost every other context — Word, upload forms, print — wants a raster file instead.
How do I open SVG files?
Any tool that lists SVG 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 SVG lossy or lossless?
SVG 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 SVG support transparency?
Yes, SVG 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.