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Difference between JPEG and GIF
JPEG and GIF are types of image formats. JPEG uses lossy compression algorithm where the image may lose some of its data, whereas GIF uses lossless compression algorithm where there is no data loss. GIF images support animation and transparency.
Read this tutorial to find out more about JPEG and GIF image formats and how they are different from each other.
What is JPEG?
JPEG stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group. JPEG is a raster image format. It uses the ".jpg" or ".jpeg" file extension. It uses a type of lossy compression to reduce file size, which means that some of the image data is lost when the file is compressed. Despite this loss of data, JPEG images can still be high quality and are widely used because they can be easily shared and downloaded.
JPEG is a standard image format, created in 1992. It is the most common image format used by digital cameras and other image capturing devices. Also, JPEG is the most common image file format for transmitting and storing photos on the Internet.
Technically, JPEG format is a standard that determines how an image is converted into a stream of bytes and converted back into an image file. JPEG file format is mainly used for photographs of realistic scenes with smooth variations of tone and colors. JPEG is also used for web images where reducing the data amount is important for fast response.
What is GIF?
GIF stands for Graphics Interchange Format. The file extension used for a GIF image file is ".gif" or ".GIF". GIF is an image format primarily used for animated and graphic images. Similar to the JPEG format, GIF is also a raster image format. It is essentially a bitmap image file. It is basically a map of bits or a spatially mapped array of bits. A bitmap image file uses different color pixels that are arranged in a manner to display an image.
GIF is commonly used for small images such as icons and logos, as well as for simple animations. Unlike JPEG, GIF uses a lossless compression method, which means that no image data is lost when the file is compressed. This makes GIF a good choice for images that require high quality, such as line art or logos with text.
However, GIF files are generally larger than JPEG files, so they are not the ideal option when the images are to be stored on the cloud or transmitted over a network.
Difference between JPEG and GIF
The following table highlights the important differences between JPEG and GIF −
Key |
JPEG |
GIF |
---|---|---|
Stands for |
JPEG stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group. |
GIF stands for Graphical Interchange Format. |
Compression Algorithm type |
JPEG uses lossy compression algorithm. |
GIF uses lossless compression algorithm. |
Image Quality |
JPEG image may lose some image data causing quality loss. |
GIF image is of high quality. |
Colors |
JPEG image supports 16 million colors. |
GIF image supports only 256 colors. |
Transparency |
JPEG does not supports transparency in images. |
GIF supports transparency in images. |
Extensions |
JPEG images use ".jpeg" or ".jpg" extension. |
GIF images use ".gif" extension. |
Animation |
JPEG images do not support animation. |
GIF images support animation. |
Usage |
JPEG images are used in photography. |
GIF images are generally used in logo or animated image creation. |
Conclusion
To conclude, JPEG and GIF image formats are quite different from each other. JPEG format does not support animations, while GIFs support animations.
JPEG is a good choice for photographs and other images with lots of colors, while GIF is a better choice for simple images with a limited color palette, such as logos and icons.