┌─ FILE ANALYSIS ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ┐
│ DEVELOPER : CompuServe
│ CATEGORY : Image
│ MIME TYPE : image/gif
│ MAGIC BYTES : 47494638
└ ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ┘
What is a GIF file?
GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) is an image format introduced by CompuServe in 1987. It supports up to 256 colors per frame and is best known for its animation capability, making it the dominant format for short animated clips and reaction images on the web.
How to open GIF files
- Any web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari)
- Windows Photos (Windows) — Built-in
- Preview (macOS) — Built-in
- GIMP (Windows, macOS, Linux) — Free, edit individual frames
- Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord — Inline playback
Technical specifications
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless (LZW) |
| Color Depth | 1-bit to 8-bit (max 256 colors per frame) |
| Transparency | 1-bit (binary on/off) |
| Animation | Supported (multi-frame) |
| Interlacing | Supported |
| Max Dimensions | 65,535 × 65,535 pixels |
Common use cases
- Animated reactions: Short looping clips for messaging
- Tutorials: Simple screen recordings and walkthroughs
- Web banners: Animated advertising (legacy)
- Simple graphics: Icons, logos with limited colors