The spelling of the word "HEIC" is quite unique and may appear unfamiliar to many. It is pronounced as /hɛɪk/ with the stress on the first syllable. The word stands for "High Efficiency Image Format" and refers to a newer photo format developed for Apple devices. The unique spelling is a combination of the acronym for the image format and the "-ic" suffix, which is commonly used in the technology industry to denote "related to" or "pertaining to".
HEIC is an acronym that stands for High Efficiency Image Format. It is a file format used for storing images and is commonly associated with Apple's iOS devices. HEIC is a container format that utilizes highly efficient compression algorithms to store images in a smaller size while maintaining a high level of image quality.
The HEIC format was introduced with the release of iOS 11 in 2017 as a replacement for the traditional JPEG format. It is based on the HEIF (High Efficiency Image File) specification, which is essentially a container format for multiple media types, including images and image sequences. HEIC files can support a variety of features, such as transparency, animations, and depth maps.
One of the main advantages of using HEIC is its ability to significantly reduce the file size of images, resulting in more efficient storage usage on devices. Compared to JPEG, HEIC files can store images at roughly half the size while maintaining the same level of image quality. This is achieved through the utilization of advanced compression techniques, such as HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) or H.265.
However, due to its relatively new introduction, compatibility with HEIC files may vary across different platforms and devices. While HEIC files can be natively viewed on Apple devices running iOS 11 or later, other devices or operating systems may require conversion or specific software to open and view HEIC images.