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SVG – Scalable Vector Graphics

Webopedia Staff
Last Updated May 24, 2021 7:56 am

Short for Scalable Vector Graphics, a vector graphics file format that enables two-dimensional images to be displayed in XML pages on the Web. Vector images are created through text-based commands formatted to comply with XML specifications. In contrast to JPEG and GIFimages on the Web, which are bitmapped and always remain a specified size, SVG images are scalable to the size of the viewing window and will adjust in size and resolution according to the window in which it is displayed.

Benefits of SVG include:

  • smaller files size than regular bitmapped graphicssuch as GIF and JPEG files
  • resolution independence, so that the image can scaledown or up to fit proportionally into any size display on any type of Web device
  • text labels and descriptions that can be searched by search engines
  • ability to link to parts of an image
  • complex animation