What is a PNG file?
Updated October 12, 2026
PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is an image format created in the mid-1990s as a free, patent-unencumbered replacement for GIF. It's one of the most widely supported image formats: every browser, operating system and image editor opens PNG files.
What makes PNG different
- Lossless. A PNG stores every pixel exactly. Save it a hundred times and it never loses quality.
- Transparency. PNG supports a full alpha channel, so edges can fade smoothly into whatever is behind the image. That's why logos and icons are often PNGs.
- Sharp text and lines. Because nothing is approximated, text, diagrams and screenshots stay crisp.
When PNG is the right choice
| Use PNG for | Use JPG instead for |
|---|---|
| Screenshots, especially with text | Photos |
| Logos, icons and graphics | Images where file size matters most |
| Images that need a transparent background | Email attachments of photos |
| Images you will keep editing | Images that are finished |
The catch is size. Because PNG is lossless, a photo saved as PNG is often several times larger than the same photo as a JPG, with no visible benefit.
Working with PNG files
- A photo saved as PNG? Convert it with PNG to JPG for a much smaller file. Transparent areas become white, or a color you pick.
- Need a smaller PNG for the web? PNG to WebP keeps transparency at a fraction of the size, and Compress image shrinks PNG files directly.
- Need a lossless copy of a JPG? JPG to PNG stops further quality loss if you'll edit the image again. It won't restore detail the JPG already lost.
All of these run in your browser, so your images aren't uploaded.