Png Image Format Definition. Png portable network graphics is a file format used for lossless image compression png has almost entirely replaced the graphics interchange format that was widely used in the past like a gif a png file is compressed in lossless fashion meaning all image information is restored when the file is decompressed during viewing. The first eight bytes of a png file always contain the following decimal values.
The png image format was developed in response to the enforcement of a patent on the pervasive gif format. A png file is a portable network graphics file. It is the best image format for transparent background or drop shadows partial transparency for fantastic effects.
Now that we have a general definition of a png let s try to understand the various types.
Portable network graphics png refers to a raster graphics image format used on websites and web applications. It is commonly used on the web and is also a popular choice for application graphics. The png format is widely used especially on the web for saving images. The format uses lossless compression and is generally considered the replacement to the gif image format.