What is AVIF?
The Next-Generation Image Format for the Modern Web
Last updated: March 2026
AVIF (AV1 Image File Format) is an open, royalty-free image format developed by the Alliance for Open Media (AOMedia). It uses the AV1 video codec to deliver superior image compression and quality compared to traditional formats like JPEG, PNG, and WebP.
What Makes AVIF Special?
AVIF was designed from the ground up to address the limitations of older image formats and provide a modern solution for web images. According to AOMedia's official blog, AVIF was "designed to improve compression methods and deliver better quality per byte while delivering superior visual appeal."
Superior Compression
AVIF provides 20-30% better compression than WebP and up to 50% better than JPEG at the same quality level, according to tests conducted by Netflix in 2020.
HDR & Wide Color Gamut
Supports High Dynamic Range (HDR) and Wide Color Gamut (WCG) with up to 12-bit color depth, providing richer colors and better contrast than standard formats.
Alpha Channel Support
Full transparency support like PNG, but with 50-70% smaller file sizes. Perfect for logos, graphics, and images requiring transparent backgrounds.
Royalty-Free & Open Source
Licensed under the BSD 2-Clause License, AVIF is completely free to use with no licensing fees or patent concerns.
Compare AVIF with Other Formats
See detailed side-by-side comparisons with interactive visual tests
View Full ComparisonHistory & Development
AVIF was developed by the Alliance for Open Media, a consortium formed in 2015 that includes major technology companies such as Google, Mozilla, Netflix, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook (Meta), Intel, ARM, and NVIDIA.
Alliance for Open Media founded with the goal of creating open, royalty-free video and image codecs.
AV1 video codec released on March 28, providing the foundation for AVIF.
AVIF v1.0.0 specification finalized in February, officially introducing the format to the world.
Chrome 85 adds AVIF support in August, making AVIF accessible to mainstream users. Netflix publishes compression tests showing AVIF's superiority.
AVIF standardized as ISO/IEC 23000-22 in July, gaining official international standard status.
Firefox 93 adds full AVIF support in October, expanding browser compatibility.
Safari 16 adds AVIF support in September with macOS Ventura, completing support across all major browsers. AVIF v1.1.0 released in April.
Universal browser support achieved. As of January 26, 2024, all major browsers fully support AVIF, making it Baseline 2024.
AVIF v1.2.0 released in December with support for sample transforms, enabling 16-bit precision and HDR enhancements.
AVIF adoption accelerates. Browser support reaches 94% globally. Major platforms including WordPress, Shopify, and content delivery networks widely support AVIF delivery.
Technical Specifications
AVIF is built on the HEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format) container, which uses the ISOBMFF (ISO Base Media File Format) structure. The image data is compressed using the AV1 codec.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| File Extension | .avif |
| MIME Type | image/avif (officially registered with IANA) |
| Container Format | HEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format) |
| Compression | AV1 video codec |
| Color Depth | 8-bit, 10-bit, 12-bit (with v1.2.0: up to 16-bit via sample transforms) |
| Color Space | sRGB, BT.709, BT.601, BT.2020 (Wide Color Gamut) |
| Max Resolution | 8K (8,192 × 4,352 pixels for Baseline profile) |
| Compression Types | Lossy and Lossless |
| Alpha Channel | ✅ Yes (transparency support) |
| Animation | ✅ Yes (image sequences) Note: Animated AVIF has lower browser support (~70-75%). Safari not supported. |
| HDR Support | ✅ Yes (High Dynamic Range) |
| EXIF Metadata | ✅ Yes (supports camera data, GPS, timestamps) |
| Color Subsampling | YUV 420, YUV 422, YUV 444 |
Browser Support
As of 2026, AVIF is supported by all major web browsers, covering over 94% of global internet users according to Can I Use.
| Browser | Support Since | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| Google Chrome | Version 85+ (August 2020) | ✓ Fully Supported |
| Microsoft Edge | Version 85+ (August 2020) | ✓ Fully Supported |
| Mozilla Firefox | Version 93+ (October 2021) | ✓ Fully Supported |
| Safari | Version 16+ (September 2022) | ✓ Fully Supported |
| Opera | Version 71+ (September 2020) | ✓ Fully Supported |
| Chrome for Android | Version 85+ (August 2020) | ✓ Fully Supported |
| Safari on iOS | iOS 16+ (September 2022) | ✓ Fully Supported |
AVIF vs Other Image Formats
How does AVIF compare to traditional formats? Based on independent testing by Netflix and Smashing Magazine:
| Feature | AVIF | WebP | JPEG | PNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| File Size (same quality) | 🏆 Smallest | Small | Medium | Large |
| Compression Efficiency | 🏆 Best (50% < JPEG) | Good (30% < JPEG) | Baseline | Lossless only |
| Image Quality | 🏆 Excellent | Good | Good | Excellent |
| Transparency (Alpha) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| HDR Support | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Color Depth | 🏆 Up to 12-bit (16-bit with v1.2.0) | 8-bit | 8-bit | 8-bit, 16-bit |
| Animation | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No (APNG exists) |
| Animation Support Note: AVIF and WebP support animation, but animated AVIF has lower browser support (~70-75% vs 94% for static). Safari does not support animated AVIF yet. | ||||
| Browser Support (2026) | 94% | 96% | 100% | 100% |
| Encoding Speed | Slower | Fast | Very Fast | Fast |
| Decoding Speed | Good | Fast | Very Fast | Very Fast |
| Licensing | 🏆 Royalty-free | Royalty-free | Royalty-free | Royalty-free |
Best Use Cases for AVIF
E-Commerce Product Images
Reduce page load times and bandwidth while maintaining high-quality product photos. Faster loading = better conversion rates. Studies show that 70% of consumers say page speed impacts their purchasing decisions.
News & Media Sites
Deliver high-quality images to readers faster, improving engagement and reducing server costs. Major news sites have reported 30-40% bandwidth savings after adopting AVIF.
Photography Portfolios
Showcase high-resolution photos with HDR and wide color gamut while keeping file sizes manageable. AVIF preserves subtle tones and colors better than JPEG at smaller file sizes.
Mobile Applications
Reduce app size and data usage with smaller image assets without compromising quality. Especially important for markets with limited bandwidth or data caps.
Streaming Services
Netflix and YouTube use AVIF for thumbnails and preview images to reduce bandwidth costs. Netflix reported AVIF shows better detail preservation and fewer artifacts than JPEG.
Design & Graphics
Store logos, icons, and graphics with transparency at much smaller sizes than PNG. Perfect for modern web design and UI elements.
Industry Adoption
Major companies and platforms have adopted AVIF:
- Netflix: Published comprehensive tests showing AVIF's superiority for their platform (2020)
- Facebook/Meta: Announced gradual rollout of AV1 codec including AVIF in 2019, with full implementation announced in 2022
- Google: Chrome added support in August 2020, making AVIF accessible to billions of users
- Apple: Added native AVIF support in macOS Ventura and iOS 16 (2022)
- Microsoft: Windows 11 22H2+ includes built-in AVIF support by default
- WordPress: Added AVIF support in version 6.5 (2024)
- Adobe: Lightroom 7.0 and Lightroom Classic 13 added HDR AVIF support (October 2023)
- Cloudflare: CDN automatically serves AVIF to compatible browsers via Polish feature
- Shopify: E-commerce platform added AVIF support for product images in 2024
How to Use AVIF on Your Website
Implementing AVIF on your website is straightforward. Here's the recommended approach using the <picture> element with fallbacks:
<picture>
<source srcset="image.avif" type="image/avif">
<source srcset="image.webp" type="image/webp">
<img src="image.jpg" alt="Description" loading="lazy">
</picture>This provides:
- AVIF for modern browsers (smallest file size) - 94% of users
- WebP for mid-range browsers - covers remaining 2%
- JPEG as final fallback for older browsers
Ready to Try AVIF?
Convert your images to AVIF format and experience the benefits firsthand
Further Reading & Official Resources
- Alliance for Open Media - Official Website
- AVIF Specification v1.2.0
- AVIF Specification on GitHub
- Wikipedia - AVIF
- Library of Congress - Format Description for AVIF
- Netflix Technical Blog - AVIF Testing
- Smashing Magazine - Using Modern Image Formats
- Can I Use - AVIF Browser Support