GIF
GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) uses a 256-colour palette and optional frame animation with LZW compression.
Common uses
- Simple animation
- Memes
- Tiny graphics in old systems
Strengths
- Animation with wide historical support
- Tiny paletted graphics
Weaknesses
- 256 colours
- Large files for long clips
- Patent history is over but the design is old
Compatibility. Universal decode. Transparency is binary, not alpha.
Size and quality. Poor for video-like clips. Use video formats for anything longer than a moment.
How to open it. Any browser. Inspect the first frame in image tools.
How to convert it. Converting to PNG/JPEG/WebP keeps one frame. That limitation is stated on the converter.
Security and privacy. Treat GIFs like any untrusted binary. Do not rely on the extension.
Related tools
- Image converter
Convert images on-device, with honest limits for animation and AVIF support.
- Image information viewer
Read width, height, and file size without uploading the picture.
Related comparisons
Last reviewed 16 August 2026.