HEIF

HEIF, or High Efficiency Image File Format, is a container format for storing still images and image sequences. Developed by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG), it is standardized as ISO/IEC 23008-12 and uses the ISO Base Media File Format (ISOBMF) wrapper. HEIF is designed to improve compression efficiency and feature support over older formats such as JPEG.

In practice, HEIF files most commonly encode image data with the HEVC (H.265) video codec, which offers higher quality at smaller file sizes. The standard also allows alternative codecs or even uncompressed data, though HEVC-based HEIF is by far the prevailing implementation in consumer devices. As a container, HEIF can store multiple images, image items, and image sequences in a single file, enabling features such as bursts or live photo-like content, as well as thumbnails and auxiliary images.

HEIF supports a range of advanced features, including 16-bit color, high dynamic range (HDR) content, and the inclusion of alpha transparency. It can carry rich metadata, such as Exif, XMP, and IPTC, alongside multiple representations of the same scene (e.g., different exposures). The format is extensible, allowing additional image properties and metadata without changing the wrapper.

Adoption and support vary by platform. Apple uses HEIF/HEIC as the default image format on iOS and macOS since recent releases. Windows provides built-in support in modern versions, often via optional codecs. Web browsers may require platform codecs or plugins for decoding HEIF/HEIC. Licensing for HEVC content within HEIF can involve patent considerations, which influences widespread adoption in some contexts.