What Is AVIF? The Next-Gen Image Format Explained

What Is AVIF? The Next-Gen Image Format Explained AVIF is showing up everywhere. Browsers support it, image tools list it as an output option, and developers keep recommending it for web performance. The format promises dramatically smaller files than JPEG and WebP without visible quality loss — and unlike HEIC, it is completely royalty-free. Here is what AVIF actually is, how it works under the hood, and when you should (and should not) use it. AVIF at a Glance Property Details Full name AV1 Image File Format File extension .avif MIME type image/avif Compression AV1 (lossy and lossless) Color depth 8-bit, 10-bit, 12-bit Transparency Full alpha channel Animation Yes (via AVIF sequences) HDR support Yes (PQ, HLG, Rec. 2020, DCI-P3) Browser support Chrome 85+, Firefox 93+, Safari 16.1+, Edge 85+ Year introduced 2019 (AVIF 1.0 specification) License Royalty-free (Alliance for Open Media) AVIF is the still-image counterpart to AV1 video, packaged in a HEIF-based container. If you know what