PNG — Portable Network Graphics
PNG is a lossless image format created in 1996 as a patent-free replacement for GIF. Lossless means the file stores every pixel exactly: no matter how many times you open and re-save a PNG, it never degrades.
PNG's other signature feature is full alpha transparency — pixels can be fully or partially see-through, which is why logos and UI graphics are traditionally PNGs.
What PNG files are used for
- Logos, icons and graphics with transparent backgrounds
- Screenshots — sharp text stays sharp
- Images that will be edited repeatedly
- Diagrams, charts and flat-color artwork
Advantages
- Lossless — perfect fidelity through unlimited edit/save cycles
- Full alpha transparency
- Excellent for sharp edges, text and flat colors
- Universally supported
Limitations
- Large files for photographs — often 3–10× a comparable JPG
- No animation (that gap is filled by GIF and animated WEBP)
- For the web, WEBP now does nearly everything PNG does at a fraction of the size
How to open a PNG file
Every browser, viewer and editor opens PNG. Convert to JPG when you need a much smaller photographic file, or to WEBP to keep transparency at web-friendly sizes.
Frequently asked questions
What is a PNG file used for?
PNG is used for screenshots, logos, icons, illustrations, diagrams, and any image that needs a transparent background or perfectly sharp text and edges. It is lossless, so it never degrades however many times it is saved.
Does PNG have better quality than JPG?
PNG preserves every pixel, while JPG discards some detail. For graphics and text, PNG is clearly better. For photographs the visible difference is small, and a PNG photo can be 5–10 times larger than the same JPG, so JPG is usually the better choice there.
How can I tell if a PNG has a transparent background?
Open it in a browser tab or an image editor: transparent areas show the page color or a gray checkerboard instead of white. Converting a transparent PNG to JPG fills those areas with a solid color, so convert to WEBP instead if you need to keep transparency in a smaller file.
Why are PNG files so large?
PNG compression is lossless, so a photo with millions of subtly different pixels can't be squeezed much. Converting photos to JPG, or any image to WEBP, usually cuts the size by 50–80%. The Compress Image tool can also reduce PNG size by limiting the color palette.
Is a PNG file editable?
You can edit a PNG as an image in any editor, from Paint and Preview to Photoshop, GIMP or Canva, but it is a flat grid of pixels with no separate layers or editable text. Keep the original design file (PSD, Figma, Canva) for future changes.