HEIC file format
| Extension | .heic |
| Category | images |
| Description | The High Efficiency Image File Format (HEIC) uses the High Efficiency Video Compression (HEVC) codec for encoding. Apple uses this in the HEIF image format. HEIC files, which include image sequences, are perfect for live photos. One of the significant benefits of HEIC is its ability to conserve storage space. This is achieved due to its advanced compression, enabling twice as many pictures to be saved in the same storage space as JPEG files. |
| Technical details | HEIC is a lossy compressed format, encoded by the HEVC codec developed by MPEG. Both HEIC and HEVC formats support transparency and can store multiple images. HEIC files can store 16-bit colors, unlike JPG files, which are limited to 8-bit colors. However, HEIC files may pose compatibility challenges. If compatibility issues arise, some older photo editing software might have difficulty interpreting HEIC files. iOS users can avoid saving images in HEIC format by adjusting their settings. |
| MIME type | image/heic image/heic-sequence |