PNG vs SVG
Comparing Portable Network Graphics and Scalable Vector Graphics — which format should you use?
| PNG | SVG | |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Portable Network Graphics | Scalable Vector Graphics |
| Extension | .png | .svg |
| MIME Type | image/png | image/svg+xml |
| Category | image | image |
PNG Pros
- +Lossless compression — no quality loss
- +Full alpha transparency support
- +Wide browser and software support
- +Good for graphics, logos, screenshots
PNG Cons
- -Larger file sizes than JPEG for photographs
- -No animation support (use APNG or GIF)
- -Not ideal for print (use TIFF or PDF)
- -No EXIF metadata support
SVG Pros
- +Infinitely scalable without quality loss
- +Tiny file sizes for simple graphics
- +Editable with any text editor
- +Supports CSS styling and JavaScript animation
SVG Cons
- -Not suitable for photographs
- -Complex SVGs can be large and slow to render
- -Security concerns when accepting user-uploaded SVGs
- -Inconsistent rendering across browsers for complex features
Use PNG when...
- -Website graphics and logos
- -Screenshots and UI mockups
- -Images requiring transparency
- -Digital art and illustrations
Use SVG when...
- -Logos and brand marks
- -Icons and UI elements
- -Infographics and charts
- -Responsive web illustrations