The GIF format, short for "Graphics Interchange Format," is a graphical format for storing images. Its main feature is the limitation to a maximum of 256 colors, which it selects for each frame from the overall color palette. For this reason, it is not suitable for storing photographs with smooth color gradients, but rather for simple graphics such as logos or icons. To reduce file size, it uses so-called lossless compression, meaning that no loss of image quality occurs during saving, unlike the lossy compression used, for example, in the JPEG format. However, it is best known for its support of simple animations. The format allows multiple frames to be stored in a single file, which are then played back in sequence to create a short moving image. Some cameras offer a function for automatically creating such an animation directly in the device, for example, from a series of rapidly successive photos. It also supports simple transparency, where one of the colors in the palette can be defined as fully transparent.
