HEIF
/heɪf/ · noun · image format · High Efficiency Image File Format
HEIF is the general image container standard. HEIC is the version Apple uses.
In more detail
HEIF is a general container standard for images and image sequences that use modern codecs. HEIC is the HEVC-based version that Apple uses.
In everyday use, people treat the two names as the same thing. Files may end in .heic or .heif.
HEIF, HEIC and file extensions
HEIF is the ISO container format. HEIC usually means HEIF content compressed with HEVC. Apple made the .heic extension common. Other HEIF files can use different codecs and may end in .heif.
That is why two HEIF files don't always behave the same. Software has to support both the container and the codec inside it. An app that opens Apple HEIC photos may still reject a less common HEIF file.
Why HEIF is useful
HEIF can store image sequences, thumbnails, transparency, depth maps, rotations and edit instructions. It doesn't need to bake every change into a new full-size image. It was built for richer photo libraries, not only for smaller single photos.
Use HEIF in apps that clearly support it. For publishing, forms or sending to someone whose setup you don't know, a JPG or PNG copy is safer. Converting can flatten extra images and edits, so keep the source file if you need them.
Key points
- HEIF is the general container standard. HEIC is a common HEVC-based version.
- To open a HEIF file, software must support both its container and its codec.
- Converting can drop image sequences, depth maps or saved edits.