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Favicon: Formats, Sizes, Use Cases, and Best Practices

Published on: | Author: Favicon.im

Introduction

A favicon (short for "favorite icon") is a small icon associated with a website. It appears in various places, such as browser tabs, bookmarks, and mobile home screens. Choosing the right favicon format and size is crucial for ensuring optimal display across different devices and platforms.

Common Formats

  1. ICO: The traditional favicon format, supported by all browsers.
  2. PNG: Widely supported and offers transparency.
  3. SVG: Scalable vector format, ideal for high-resolution displays.
  4. GIF: Supports animation but less commonly used.

Recommended Sizes

  • 16x16 pixels: Standard size for browser tabs and address bars.
  • 32x32 pixels: For higher resolution displays and Windows taskbar.
  • 48x48 pixels: Used by some desktop browsers.
  • 64x64 pixels: For Windows site icons.
  • 152x152 pixels: For iOS home screen icons.
  • 192x192 pixels: For Android home screen icons.
  • 512x512 pixels: For PWA (Progressive Web App) splash screens.

Use Cases

  1. Browser tabs: Helps users identify your site among multiple open tabs.
  2. Bookmarks: Makes your site easily recognizable in bookmark lists.
  3. Mobile home screens: Creates an app-like icon when users add your site to their home screen.
  4. Search results: Some search engines display favicons next to search results.
  5. PWAs: Serves as the app icon for progressive web applications.

Best Practices

  1. Use multiple sizes: Provide various sizes to ensure crisp display across different devices and contexts.
  2. Keep it simple: Design a clear, recognizable icon that works well at small sizes.
  3. Maintain consistency: Align your favicon with your brand's visual identity.
  4. Use appropriate formats: Provide ICO for maximum compatibility, and SVG for scalability.
  5. Optimize file size: Keep your favicon files as small as possible without compromising quality.
  6. Use a favicon generator: Tools like RealFaviconGenerator can create multiple sizes and formats from a single image.
  7. Implement using HTML: Use appropriate <link>` tags in your HTML to specify different favicon versions. Here's an example of how to include various favicon sizes and formats:
  8. Test across devices: Ensure your favicon looks good on various browsers and devices.
  9. Update with care: Changing your favicon can affect user recognition, so do it thoughtfully.
  10. Consider dark mode: Design a favicon that works well in both light and dark browser themes.
  11. Use appropriate meta tags: Include meta tags for better control over how your favicon is displayed. For example:

Code example

<!-- Basic favicon -->
<link rel="icon" type="image/x-icon" href="/favicon.ico">

<!-- For iOS devices -->
<link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="/apple-touch-icon.png">

<!-- For Android devices -->
<link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="192x192" href="/android-chrome-192x192.png">
<link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="512x512" href="/android-chrome-512x512.png">

<!-- For Windows devices -->
<meta name="msapplication-TileImage" content="/mstile-150x150.png">
<meta name="msapplication-TileColor" content="#ffffff">

<!-- SVG favicon for modern browsers -->
<link rel="icon" type="image/svg+xml" href="/favicon.svg">

<!-- Fallback PNG favicons -->
<link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="32x32" href="/favicon-32x32.png">
<link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="16x16" href="/favicon-16x16.png">

<!-- Web App Manifest for PWAs -->
<link rel="manifest" href="/site.webmanifest">

<!-- Specify a theme color for mobile browsers -->
<meta name="theme-color" content="#4285f4">

<!-- For Safari on iOS -->
<meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-capable" content="yes">
<meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-status-bar-style" content="black">

<!-- For Windows 8 and 10 -->
<meta name="msapplication-config" content="/browserconfig.xml">

Conclusion

A well-designed favicon enhances brand recognition and improves user experience. By following these best practices and providing multiple sizes and formats, you can ensure your site's icon looks great across all platforms and devices. Remember to use appropriate HTML tags and meta elements to properly implement your favicons and control their display across different browsers and devices.

Check Favicon

Use favicon.im to quickly check if your favicon is configured correctly. It's a simple, free tool that helps ensure your website's favicon is properly set up and visible across different browsers and devices.