File Format Information Database Home Update

Comupserve GIF

Quick Info

GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) was created by Compuserve in 1987 to provide a compressed file format for image transfer and storage.

Today the GIF-Standard has become a wide spread image file format. Since it uses LZW-Compression, the files are quite small without any loss of data. This is why GIF is one of the most important image formats in the World Wide Web.

There are two versions of the GIF-Format: GIF87a and GIF89a. There are a few important extensions in GIF89a:

Although almost every image editor/viewer/converter can handle GIF-files, the advanced features of GIF89a are very rarely supported.

If you want to make transparent/interlaced/animated GIF's, use The GIF Construction Set.

For further information on the GIF format go to the Graphics Interchange Format Page

Quick Info:

Name: Compuserve GIF
Type: Image
Extension: GIF
Viewer Application: ...
Specification:
GIF87a Specification, GIF89a Specification, GIF compression
If you have additional information, send mail to Alexander Krauss