PNG stands for Portable Network Graphics, which is a file format used for storing digital images. It was developed as a replacement for GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) and aimed to overcome some of the limitations and patent issues associated with GIF.
PNG is a lossless compression format, meaning it retains all the original data of an image without degradation or loss in quality. It supports various color depths, including grayscale, true color, and indexed color, and allows for transparency, making it particularly useful for images that require clear backgrounds or overlaying on different backgrounds.
The format utilizes a data compression algorithm known as Deflate, which reduces the file size without sacrificing image quality. PNG also supports interlacing, a feature that allows for the progressive rendering of images, resulting in quicker display of low-resolution versions of the image while loading.
One advantage of PNG over GIF is its ability to support more colors, as GIF only supports a maximum of 256 colors. Additionally, PNG images don't suffer from the patent issues that surround the GIF format.
PNG has become widely accepted and supported by most web browsers and image editing software. It has become the preferred format for website design, digital art, and other graphics-intensive applications where high-quality images with advanced features are required.
