A GIF, which stands for Graphics Interchange Format, is a bitmap image file format introduced in 1987 by CompuServe, led by Steve Wilhite
. It is designed to support relatively simple images with up to 8 bits per pixel, allowing a palette of up to 256 colors from the 24-bit RGB color space
. What makes GIFs unique is their ability to contain multiple images or frames in a single file, enabling simple animations that loop continuously without sound
. This looping animation effect is often likened to a tiny movie or flipbook that plays repeatedly in web browsers
. GIFs are widely used on the internet, especially on social media platforms, for sharing short, eye-catching animations or memes
. The GIF format uses lossless compression (LZW) to reduce file size without degrading image quality, which made it popular for fast loading on early internet connections
. However, its limited color palette makes it less suitable for detailed photographs but ideal for graphics, logos, and simple animations
. In summary, a GIF is a raster image format that supports basic animations by combining multiple frames into a single file, playing in a continuous loop, and is widely used for visual communication online
