Web and XML Glossary

GIF is a data stream-oriented Image Format used to define the transmission protocol of LZW-encoded bitmap data. GIF images may be up to eight bits (256 colors) in depth and are always compressed. Despite the fact that GIF supports only 8-bits worth of colors, and the multimedia extensions introduced in the GIF89a release have not been widely utilized, GIF still remains a popular choice for storing lower resolution image data. Any software created or modified after 1994 that supports the capability of reading and/or writing GIF files must obtain a patent license agreement from Unisys Corporation. For publishing on the WWW, JPEG is a good companion format for photo-realistic images, while PNG has been designed to replace GIF in the long run.