Favicon Formats Explained
Understanding the differences between ICO, PNG, SVG, and GIF formats for favicons. Learn which formats to use for maximum compatibility and quality.
Format Comparison at a Glance
| Format | Browser Support | Transparency | Animation | Scalability | File Size | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICO | Excellent | Multi-size | Medium | Legacy browsers | ||
| PNG | Excellent | Small-Medium | Modern browsers | |||
| SVG | Good | Infinite | Smallest | Modern sites, dark mode | ||
| GIF | Limited | Limited | Large | Rarely used |
ICO Format (.ico)
What is ICO?
ICO (Icon) is the original favicon format introduced by Microsoft. It's a container format that can hold multiple image sizes and color depths in a single file.
Disadvantages
- Larger file size: Contains multiple images
- Limited tools: Fewer tools for creating/editing
- No animation: Static images only
Technical Specs
- Extension: .ico
- MIME type: image/x-icon
- Max colors: 32-bit RGBA
- Typical sizes: 16, 32, 48, 64, 128, 256px
- Compression: None or PNG
When to Use ICO
Use ICO When:
- You need support for older browsers (IE 10 and below)
- You want automatic favicon without HTML links
- You need a single file with multiple resolutions
- Maximum compatibility is priority
Best Practice:
Include favicon.ico with at least 16x16, 32x32, and 48x48 sizes. Place it in your website root for automatic detection.
PNG Format (.png)
What is PNG for Favicons?
PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is the most commonly used modern favicon format. It offers excellent quality, transparency support, and wide compatibility.
Disadvantages
- Single resolution: One size per file
- Requires HTML: Must be declared in HTML (not automatic)
- No animation: Static images only
Technical Specs
- Extension: .png
- MIME type: image/png
- Max colors: 32-bit RGBA
- Compression: Lossless
- Common sizes: 16, 32, 96, 180, 192, 512px
Required PNG Sizes
favicon-16x16.png
Browser tabs (small)
favicon-32x32.png
Browser tabs (standard)
favicon-96x96.png
High-DPI displays
SVG Format (.svg)
What is SVG for Favicons?
SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) is the newest favicon format, offering infinite scalability and support for modern features like dark mode and animations.
Disadvantages
- Limited support: Not supported in Safari, IE, older browsers
- Not for photos: Best for simple graphics only
- Requires fallback: Must provide PNG/ICO alternatives
Technical Specs
- Extension: .svg
- MIME type: image/svg+xml
- Format: XML-based vector
- Scalability: Infinite
- File size: Typically 1-5 KB
SVG Dark Mode Example
<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 32 32">
<style>
/* Light mode *@media (prefers-color-scheme: light) {
.icon { fill: #0066cc; }
}
/* Dark mode */
@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {
.icon { fill: #4da6ff; }
}
</style>
<circle class="icon" cx="16" cy="16" r="14"/>
</svg>Format Recommendations by Use Case
Maximum Compatibility
For websites needing support for all browsers including older ones:
- Primary: favicon.ico (multi-size)
- Secondary: PNG files (16x16, 32x32)
- Mobile: Apple Touch Icon PNG (180x180)
Modern Websites
For modern web applications targeting current browsers:
- Primary: PNG files (multiple sizes)
- Progressive: SVG with dark mode
- Fallback: favicon.ico for legacy
Progressive Web Apps
For PWAs with app-like experience:
- Primary: PNG files (192x192, 512x512)
- Manifest: Multiple PNG sizes defined
- Maskable: PNG with safe zone for Android
Minimal/Simple Sites
For simple sites with minimal requirements:
- Minimum: favicon.ico (root directory)
- Plus: favicon-32x32.png
- Mobile: apple-touch-icon.png
Complete Multi-Format Implementation
Best practice is to provide all formats for comprehensive coverage:
<!-- ICO for legacy browsers -->
<link rel="icon" type="image/x-icon" href="/favicon.ico">
<!-- PNG for modern browsers -->
<link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="16x16" href="/favicon-16x16.png">
<link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="16x16" href="/favicon-16x16.png">
<link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="32x32" href="/favicon-32x32.png">
<link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="96x96" href="/favicon-96x96.png">
<link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="512x512" href="/favicon-512x512.png">
<link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="96x96" href="/favicon-96x96.png">
<!-- SVG for modern browsers with dark mode -->
<link rel="icon" type="image/svg+xml" href="/favicon.svg">
<!-- Apple Touch Icon -->
<link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="/apple-touch-icon.png">
<!-- Web App Manifest -->
<link rel="manifest" href="/site.webmanifest">Generate All Formats Automatically
Our tool creates ICO, PNG, and SVG files automatically from one source image
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