What is HEIC and HEIF

This article provides a clear overview of the HEIF and HEIC image formats, explaining their origins, how they work, and why they are used. You will discover the key differences between these modern formats and traditional JPEGs, as well as how to solve compatibility issues by converting your files for use on any device.

Understanding HEIF and HEIC

HEIF stands for High Efficiency Image File Format. Developed by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG), it is a container format designed to store individual images and sequences of images.

HEIC is the file extension (such as .heic) that Apple adopted for saving images on iPhones and iPads. It uses High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) technology to compress images, allowing devices to capture high-quality photos at a fraction of the file size of older formats.

Essentially, HEIF is the standard format, while HEIC is the specific file type that contains the compressed image data.

Key Benefits of HEIC and HEIF

Compared to older formats like JPEG, HEIC offers several significant advantages:

• Better Compression: HEIC files can store images at roughly half the file size of a JPEG while maintaining the exact same visual quality.
• Advanced Features: Unlike JPEG, HEIC supports 16-bit color (allowing for more vibrant and accurate colors), image transparency, and embedded editing history (so you can undo crops or rotations).
• Support for Image Sequences: The format can store multiple photos in a single file, which makes it ideal for Apple’s “Live Photos” and burst-mode shots.

Compatibility and How to Convert HEIC to JPEG

While HEIC is highly efficient, its main drawback is compatibility. Windows computers, older Android devices, and many websites do not natively support HEIC files, making them difficult to view or upload.

The easiest way to resolve this issue is to convert your HEIC images into the universally accepted JPEG format. If you need to convert multiple images quickly, you can use this online Bulk HEIC/HEIF to JPEG conversion tool to safely process your files directly in your web browser.