What is .gif?

.gif (Graphics Interchange Format) is a bitmap image format that supports both static and animated images. It uses a limited color palette (up to 256 colors) and lossless LZW compression, making it the standard for simple animations, memes, and low-resolution graphics on the web.

This quick guide explains when to use .gif files, how to open them on any device, and how to share them instantly with FileXhost.

When to use .gif files

You want to share a short, looping animation without sound (memes, reactions).
You need a simple graphic with solid areas of color (logos, icons) and binary transparency.
You need maximum compatibility for animation across all browsers and email clients.

How to open .gif files

GIF files open automatically in all web browsers, messaging apps, and image viewers. You can also upload .gif files to FileXhost to host and share them instantly.

Algorithm details

GIF uses Lempel-Ziv-Welch (LZW) lossless data compression, which reduces file size without degrading visual quality. However, the format is limited to an 8-bit palette, meaning it can only display 256 distinct colors from the 24-bit RGB color space per frame. Transparency is binary (a pixel is either fully transparent or fully opaque), unlike the alpha channel transparency in PNG or WebP.

Browser & platform support

Desktop: Supported by 100% of desktop browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera, IE).
Mobile: Supported by 100% of mobile browsers and operating systems.
Email: The most reliable format for animation in email newsletters.
Social Media: Native support on Twitter (X), Facebook, Discord, Slack, etc.

Format comparison

Feature	Details
Color Depth	Limited to 256 colors per frame. Not suitable for high-quality photos.
Animation	Native support. The de-facto standard for web animation.
Compression	Lossless LZW, but file sizes can be large for long animations compared to MP4 or WebP.
Transparency	Binary (on/off) only. No partial transparency or shadows.
Audio	Not supported. GIFs are silent.

How to create gif files

Video Converters: Giphy, Ezgif, Photoshop (Import Video Frames).
Screen Recording: ScreenToGif, LICEcap, ShareX.
Design Tools: Adobe Photoshop (Timeline), Canva, Figma (plugins).
Programming: FFmpeg (ffmpeg -i input.mp4 output.gif), Python (MoviePy).

How to convert gif files

FileXhost: Upload GIFs to share or convert them to MP4 for better compression.
Online Tools: Ezgif, CloudConvert, Giphy.
CLI: FFmpeg (highly configurable palette generation for better quality).
Software: Photoshop (Save for Web > GIF).

Advantages & disadvantages

Advantages

Universal support (browsers, email, older devices)
Easy to create and share
Supports animation and transparency
Lossless compression for simple graphics
Small file size for simple icons or logos

Disadvantages

Limited to 256 colors (dithering artifacts in photos)
Large file sizes for complex animations (inefficient compared to MP4/WebP)
No audio support
Binary transparency creates jagged edges (no anti-aliasing)
Frame rate limitations

Tools & software

Viewers

All web browsers, Windows Photos, macOS Preview

Editors

Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, Ezgif (online), ScreenToGif

Converters

FFmpeg, Giphy, CloudConvert, ImageMagick

Libraries

gif.js, giflib, Pillow (Python), Glide (Android)

Frequently asked questions

Why do GIFs look grainy?

GIFs are limited to 256 colors. To simulate other colors, they use 'dithering' (mixing pixels of available colors), which creates a grainy or speckled look.

Is GIF better than MP4?

For short, looping, silent clips (like memes), GIF is easier to share. For anything longer or higher quality, MP4 is far superior in quality and file size.

Why is my GIF file size so huge?

GIF compresses each frame individually. If your animation has many frames or complex colors, the file size grows rapidly. Converting to WebP or MP4 can reduce size by 90%.

How do I make a GIF with a transparent background?

In tools like Photoshop, select 'Transparency' when saving. Remember that GIF transparency is binary—edges might look jagged if not placed on a matching background color.

How is it pronounced: GIF or JIF?

The creator, Steve Wilhite, says it's 'JIF' (like the peanut butter), but most of the internet says 'GIF' (hard G like 'graphics'). Both are widely understood!

Technical specs

File type: Image
Extension: .gif
MIME type: image/gif
Compression: Lossless
Max file size on FileXhost: Up to 25 MB per file on the free plan and up to 1 GB on Pro FileXhost accounts.

Upload your .gif file to FileXhost to get a clean, shareable URL in seconds. View the file in a modern browser, protect access with optional settings, and let others download it without any confusing ads or cluttered file pages.

Upload .gif file