The images on the Internet are files that may contain different extensions, for example: JPEG, GIF or PNG. The choice of one type of image over another will depend on the purpose that we wish to give it. For example, the JPEG format is ideal for real-world images (like photographs), when we have many colours, or for light and dark shading. The term JPEG means Joint Photography Experts Group, a group that created the format in 1986. This 16-bit format reduces the file size, and about 75% of the time, the compression is optimal for web pages. A smaller file size means faster loading.

In the case of GIF images, their use is recommended for animations, small icons, or web graphics with few colours. GIF means Graphics Interface Format, and the extension was created in 1987, by CompuServe, for transferring images quickly across slow connections. As there are fewer colours, this means that the files are smaller than a JPEG, and moreover, this compression does not result in a loss of information.

Lastly, we have PNG images. This type of file is recommended for web images, images in the process of being edited, or complex images (like photographs), only if the size is not an issue. PNG means Portable Network Graphic. It is similar to GIF, and there are two types: the PNG-8 and the PNG-24. In the first case, the images are smaller than the GIF, and in the second, the files are larger than a JPEG. Moreover, PNG images allow for a transparency scale between opaque and completely transparent.

Image: Alfredo Vela
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