What Is The Difference Between Image File Formats PNG, JPEG, GIF

What Is The Difference Between Image File Formats PNG, JPEG, GIF : JPEG, GIF, and PNG are the most used image file formats these days. Did you know what the names stand for ? Most people don’t. JPEG stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group, GIF stands for Graphics Interchange Format, and PNG stands for Portable Networks Graphic. Now that you know the full forms of these image formats, lets know about each and every format in detail and also the actual difference between them. First let’s discuss about JPEG, then GIF and then PNG. After that we will explore about the actual difference among them.

The infographic given below points out everything you need to know about each of these image file formats and the differences as well. We have also explained a lot in our own terms below the infographic. What Is The Difference Between Image File Formats PNG, JPEG, GIF

JPEG – Joint Photographic Experts Group

It is pronounced as “Jay-Peg” and is used when small image size is more important than the quality of the image. this is a 16 bit data format. It is developed in 1986. Best suited for websites and standard file format for most cameras. Compatible across every platform (Mac, PC) and web browsers, editors etc..;

GIF – Graphics Interchange Format

There is a public debate and confusion about the pronunciation of this format, either to be called as jif or gif. But the creator Steve Wilhite stated that the correct pronunciation of this format as jif. This is mainly created by CompuServe in 1987 to transfer images quickly over slow internet connections. The main purpose of this format is to display Animation inside images. Best suited for small icons, animations.

PNG – Portable Networks Graphic

Pronounced as Ping or P.N.G. Designed in mid 1980’s because of patent conflicts with GIF format. This format contains both the benefits of JPEG and GIF. Format is mainly used to achieve transparency and fading, which is best suited in the creation of logos. This format is again of two types. PNG-8 and PNG-24. PNG-8 files are similar to GIF and even smaller than them. Whereas PNG-24 files are similar to JPEG, but greater file size than JPEG. Some older browsers may have problems displaying PNG files because of Alpha channels.

Differences between JPEG, GIF, and PNG

So out of the above three formats, what you should use ? Well, it mainly depends on the purpose of your usage. If you want to use the image on a website, then my choice would be JPEG, since it saves a lot of bandwidth when compared to PNG. When it comes to creating a logo, anyone would go for PNG because of its transparency and fading features. If we want to create animation within images, then we have GIF format for us. So it all depends on your choice and work.

Conclusion:

We’ve gone through almost each and every detail about JPEG, GIF and PNG and also discussed about the actual differences between them. The infographic provided above also given a photographic representation about these image formats in detail.

So i hope you’ve got everything you need to know about these image formats and the differences as well. Well, If you have any more doubts please let us know and we will clear them asap. Please share this article with your friends on Social Media to help us grow. Thank you.