image/avif
The next-generation MIME type for AVIF images with advanced compression based on AV1 video codec.
What Is This?
The image/avif MIME type indicates that the content is an AVIF image based on the AV1 video codec. AVIF offers the best compression of any web image format — typically 50% smaller than JPEG at the same quality and 20% smaller than WebP. It supports HDR, wide color gamut, transparency, and animation.
Common Uses
Cutting-edge web performance optimization
High-quality photographs with minimal file size
Premium content delivery with bandwidth savings
Future-proof image delivery
Examples
Supported in Chrome 85+, Firefox 93+, Edge 121+, and Safari 16.4+. Not yet universally supported, requiring fallback mechanisms.
The .avif file extension maps to image/avif as its MIME type.
Related Entries
More from this reference:
image/png
The MIME type for PNG (Portable Network Graphics) image files with lossless compression.
image/jpeg
The MIME type for JPEG image files using lossy compression for photographs.
image/gif
The MIME type for GIF images supporting animation and transparency.
image/webp
The modern MIME type for WebP images offering superior compression for both lossy and lossless encoding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AVIF better than WebP?
AVIF generally offers 20-30% better compression than WebP at equivalent quality. However, WebP has broader browser support and faster encoding. Use AVIF as a enhancement with WebP or JPEG fallbacks.
Does AVIF support transparency?
Yes. AVIF supports alpha channel transparency similar to PNG and WebP. This makes it a potential replacement for both JPEG (photos) and PNG (transparent graphics).