PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is a raster image format that compresses without losing any detail. It supports full alpha transparency and was designed as an open replacement for GIF.
Why it matters
PNG keeps text and sharp lines crisp, which makes it the usual choice for screenshots, icons, and logos. For photographs it produces much larger files than JPEG, so photos are better saved in a lossy format. Modern formats like WebP can often replace PNG at smaller sizes.
PNG does not support animation in common use, unlike GIF.
Example
A 1200 by 800 screenshot of a dashboard may be a few hundred kilobytes as PNG, while a photograph of the same dimensions can be several times larger than as a JPEG at normal quality. Always compare real files, since the content decides the result.
Common mistakes
- Saving photographs as PNG and serving huge images to visitors.
- Expecting transparency from JPEG.
- Skipping optimization tools that can shrink PNG files without quality loss.
Related
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