HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container)

HEIC is a modern image format based on the HEVC (H.265) video codec, used as the default photo format on Apple devices. It offers roughly 50% better compression than JPEG while supporting features like depth maps and live photos. HEIC files maintain higher quality at smaller sizes but have limited support outside the Apple ecosystem.

MIME Type

image/heic

Type

Binary

Compression

Lossy

Advantages

+ 50% smaller than JPEG at equivalent quality
+ 10-bit color depth (over 1 billion colors)
+ Supports depth maps, live photos, and bursts
+ Default format on iPhone and iPad

Disadvantages

− Limited support outside Apple ecosystem
− HEVC patents create licensing concerns
− No direct browser support for web display

When to Use .HEIC

HEIC is used automatically on Apple devices. Convert to JPEG or WebP for web delivery and cross-platform sharing.

Technical Details

HEIC uses HEVC intra-frame compression with support for 10-bit color, alpha transparency, and image sequences. It stores images in the ISO Base Media File Format (ISOBMFF) container.

History

HEIC was standardized as part of MPEG-H Part 12 (ISO/IEC 23008-12) in 2015. Apple adopted it as the default iPhone camera format in iOS 11 (2017).

Convert from .HEIC

.heic → .avif .heic → .bmp .heic → .gif .heic → .ico .heic → .jpg .heic → .jxl .heic → .png .heic → .psd .heic → .raw .heic → .tiff .heic → .webp

Convert to .HEIC

.avif → .heic .bmp → .heic .gif → .heic .ico → .heic .jpg → .heic .jxl → .heic .png → .heic .psd → .heic .raw → .heic .tiff → .heic .webp → .heic

Related Formats

.ai .apng .arw .avif .bmp .cr2 .dng .eps .gif .heif .ico .jpeg .jpg .jxl .nef .png .psd .qoi .raw .svg .tif .tiff .webp .xcf

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