File Format

PNG (.png)

Lossless image format with full transparency support — the standard for graphics, logos, and screenshots.

Extension: .png
MIME Type: image/png

Last updated June 29, 2026

What Is a PNG File?

PNG (Portable Network Graphics) was created in 1995 as a patent-free replacement for GIF. It uses lossless compression — every pixel is stored exactly, and the image can be saved and re-opened infinite times with no quality loss.

PNG Compression

PNG uses DEFLATE compression (the same algorithm as ZIP files). Because it is lossless, it cannot compress photographs as efficiently as JPG — a PNG photograph is typically 3–10× larger than an equivalent JPG. For graphics, logos, and screenshots, however, PNG often produces smaller files than JPG because its compression algorithm exploits flat-colour areas efficiently.

Key Features

Lossless — pixel-perfect reproduction, no generation loss on re-save
Alpha channel — full 8-bit transparency per pixel (256 levels)
Indexed colour — optional palette mode for simple graphics (up to 256 colours)
Bit depth — supports 8-bit and 16-bit per channel

When to Use PNG

✅ Logos and icons (requires transparency or sharp edges) ✅ Screenshots containing text or UI elements ✅ Graphics with flat colours and hard edges ✅ Working/intermediate copies during editing ✅ Images that will be edited and re-saved multiple times

❌ Photographs (use JPG or WebP — PNG is 3–10× larger) ❌ Web images without transparency (use WebP for best ratio)

PNG vs JPG: Quick Reference

Factor	PNG	JPG
Compression	Lossless	Lossy
Transparency	Yes (alpha)	No
Best for	Graphics, text, logos	Photographs
File size (photos)	3–10× larger	Smaller
Generation loss	None	Yes (per re-save)