Image format
What is a GIF file?
GIF is a decades-old format limited to 256 colors per frame, but it's still the standard way to share short looping animations.
GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) predates the web itself — CompuServe introduced it in 1987 as a compact way to share images over slow dial-up connections. Its defining limitation, a palette of at most 256 colors per frame, made it a poor fit for photos even by the standards of the time, but its lossless compression and built-in support for multi-frame animation gave it a second life as the format behind reaction GIFs, memes, and short looping clips — a role modern formats like WebP and AVIF have struggled to fully displace, mostly because GIF support is so deeply baked into every platform.
How to open a GIF file
GIF files open readily in Any web browser, Your operating system's default photo viewer. For real editing rather than just viewing, reach for GIMP, Photoshop, Adobe Animate.
Strengths & limitations
Good for
- universally playable animation
- no plugin or player needed
Watch out for
- only 256 colors, so photos look banded
- far larger files than a modern video codec for the same clip
Convert GIF files
Orbfile can convert GIF both ways, entirely in your browser — pick a direction below:
Frequently asked questions
What does a GIF file contain?+
GIF is a decades-old format limited to 256 colors per frame, but it's still the standard way to share short looping animations.
Can I convert GIF for free?+
Yes — Orbfile's image converter handles GIF for free, with no file limit, watermark, or account, and it runs entirely in your browser.
Is converting a GIF file safe and private?+
Yes. Orbfile processes GIF files locally on your device using WebAssembly — nothing is uploaded to a server, so there's nothing to leak or store.
Who created the GIF format?+
GIF was developed by CompuServe, first released around 1987.
Browse the full file format guide.