Guides

File Format Guides

Plain-language guides to image, document, and color formats — what each one is, how it compares to the alternatives, and when you actually need to convert it.

HEIC Guides

What Is a HEIC File?

What HEIC is, how it works, and why Apple uses it.

HEIC vs JPG

Compatibility, quality, and which format to use.

HEIC vs PNG

Apple's photo format compared with lossless PNG.

How to Open HEIC Files on Windows

Step-by-step fixes for Windows 10 and 11.

How to Open HEIC Files on Android

Viewing and converting HEIC on Android devices.

Why Does iPhone Use HEIC?

Apple's reasoning for the default photo format.

AVIF Guides

What Is an AVIF File?

The AV1 Image File Format explained.

AVIF vs PNG

Smaller files vs universal compatibility.

AVIF vs WebP

Two modern formats compared head-to-head.

WebP Guides

What Is a WebP File?

Google's modern image format explained.

WebP vs GIF

Smaller animations vs universal compatibility.

JFIF Guides

What Is a JFIF File?

Why JFIF exists and how it relates to JPG.

JFIF vs JPG

Identical image data, different extension.

TIFF Guides

What Is a TIFF File?

The professional print and scanning format explained.

RAW Guides

What Is a RAW File?

Unprocessed camera sensor data explained.

ICO Guides

What Is an ICO File?

The Windows icon and favicon format explained.

Color Guides

RGB vs HEX

Color formats for web design and CSS.

What Is CMYK?

The subtractive print color model explained.

SVG Guides

What Is an SVG File?

Scalable vector graphics explained.

Data Format Guides

What Is CSV?

Comma-separated values explained.

What Is JSON?

JavaScript Object Notation explained.

Document Guides

PDF, EML, MSG & CBR Explained

Document and email archive formats compared.