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{{Short description|Raster graphics file format}}

'''High Efficiency Image File Format (HEIF)''' specifies the storage of individual images as well as image sequences in a single container file. It is an [[Moving Picture Experts Group|MPEG]] standard and defined by part 12 of [[MPEG-H]] (ISO/IEC 23008-12).{{Infobox file format|name = High Efficiency Image File Format (HEIF)|icon = |extension = .heif, .heic|mime = image/heif, image/heic, image/heif-sequence, image/heic-sequence|developer = Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG)|type = Image Container Format|url = http://mpeg.chiariglione.org/standards/mpeg-h/image-file-format|standard = ISO/IEC CD 23008-12}}

{{Redirect|HEIF|the Higher Education Innovation Fund|Research England}}

{{Redirect|heic|other uses|HEIC (disambiguation){{!}}HEIC}}

{{Infobox file format

| name = High Efficiency Image File Format (HEIF)

| icon =

| screenshot = Comparison between JPEG, JPEG 2000, JPEG XR and HEIF.png

| caption = Comparison of JPEG, JPEG 2000, JPEG XR and HEIF files at similar file sizes

| extension = .heif, .heifs; .heic, .heics; .avci, .avcs; .HIF

| _nomimecode = 1

| mime = <code>image/heif</code>, <code>image/heif-sequence</code>; <code>image/heic</code>, <code>image/heic-sequence</code>; <code>image/avif</code>

| uniform type = public.heif, public.heic

| developer = [[Moving Picture Experts Group]] (MPEG)

| type = Image container

| open = Depends on contained format (e.g. HEIC vs. free [[AVIF|AV1 Image File Format]])

| url = {{Official URL}}

| extended_from = [[ISOBMFF]]

| standard = ISO/IEC 23008-12 (MPEG-H Part&nbsp;12)

}}

'''High Efficiency Image File Format''' ('''HEIF''') is a digital [[container format]] for storing individual [[digital image]]s and image sequences. The standard covers [[multimedia]] files that can also include other media streams, such as [[timed text]], audio and video.<ref name="JCTVC" />

HEIF can store images encoded with multiple coding formats, for example both [[Standard-dynamic-range video|SDR]] and [[High-dynamic-range video|HDR]] images. [[High Efficiency Video Coding|HEVC]] is an image and video encoding format and the default image codec used with HEIF. HEIF files containing HEVC-encoded images are also known as '''HEIC''' files. Such files require less storage space than the equivalent quality [[JPEG]].<ref name="CNET" /><ref name="LesShu" />

HEIF specification defines the means of storing [[High Efficiency Video Coding|High Efficiency Video Codec (HEVC)]] encoded [[Video compression picture types|intra images]] and HEVC encoded image sequences in which [[Inter frame|inter prediction]] is applied in a constrained manner.

HEIF files are compatiblea withspecial case of the [[International Organization for Standardization|ISO]] Base Media File Format ([[ISO base media file format|ISOBMFF]], ISO/IEC 14496-12), andfirst candefined alsoin include2001 otheras mediaa shared part of [[MP4]] and [[JPEG 2000]]. Introduced in streams2015, suchit aswas timeddeveloped textby the [[Moving Picture Experts Group]] (MPEG) and audiois defined as Part 12 within the [[MPEG-H]] media suite (ISO/IEC 23008-12).

== History ==

The requirements and main use cases of HEIF were defined in 2013 .<ref name=":0Still Image Req">{{Citecite web |title = Requirements for still image coding using HEVC {{!}} MPEG|url = http://mpeg.chiariglione.org/standards/mpeg-h/high-efficiency-video-coding/requirements-still-image-coding-using-hevc |website=chiariglione.org |access-date=2018-08-24 |date=2013-07-29 |archive-date=2021-05-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517080655/https://mpeg.chiariglione.org|accessdate/standards/mpeg-h/high-efficiency-video-coding/requirements-still-image-coding-using-hevc |url-status=live 2015-11-25}}</ref><ref name=":1Image Sequence Req">{{Citecite web |title = Requirements for HEVC image sequences {{!}} MPEG|url = http://mpeg.chiariglione.org/standards/mpeg-h/high-efficiency-video-coding/requirements-hevc-image-sequences |website = mpeg.chiariglione.org |accessdateaccess-date=2018-08-24 |date=2013-07-29 2015|archive-11date=2021-25}}</ref>.The technical development of the specification took about 1.5 years and was finalized in summer 2015<ref>{{Cite05-17 web|archive-url = httphttps://mpegweb.chiariglionearchive.org/sitesweb/default20210517080156/fileshttps:/files/meetingsmpeg.chiariglione.org/docsstandards/w15328.docx|title = Evidence motivates MPEG to launch new standardization effortmpeg-h/high-efficiency-video-coding/requirements-hevc-image-sequences for HDR|date = |accessdate = |website = |publisher = |last = |first url-status=live }}</ref>.

The technical development of the specification took about one and a half years and was finalized in the middle of 2015.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=http://mpeg.chiariglione.org/sites/default/files/files/meetings/docs/w15328.docx |title=Evidence motivates MPEG to launch new standardization effort for HDR |website=chiariglione.org |date=2015-06-26 |access-date=2018-08-24 |archive-date=2021-04-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415074444/https://mpeg.chiariglione.org/sites/default/files/files/meetings/docs/w15328.docx |url-status=live }}</ref>

Apple was the first major adopter of the format in 2017 with the introduction of [[iOS 11]] using HEIC variant. While HEIC became the default for iPhones, it remains possible to revert the settings to allow photos to be recorded in the more recognizable JPEG format.<ref>{{cite web |title=How to Stop iPhone from Taking Photos in HEIC-HEIF |url=https://heic.imobie.com/how-to/stop-iphone-from-taking-photos-in-heic.htm |website=Heic.Info |access-date=15 April 2024}}</ref>

== Use Cases ==

Some main use cases supported by HEIF are as follows<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />:

* Storage of single or multiple images and their thumbnails,

* Storage of [[Burst mode (photography)|burst photos]],

* Support for simultaneous capture of video and still images, i.e. storing still images and timed image sequences into the same file,

* Efficient representation of animations and [[Cinemagraph|cinemagraphs]],

* Storage of [[Bracketing|focal and exposure stacks]] into the same container file, 

* Storage of images derived from other images of the file, either as derived images represented by [[Layers (digital image editing)|non-destructive image editing]] operations or as pre-computed derived images,

* Support for storing other media, such as audio and timed text, into the same container file with timed image sequences and synchronizing their playback. 

As HEVC provides support for various [[Chroma subsampling|chroma formats]] and sample fidelities up to lossless coding, the format can serve the whole spectrum of use cases from today's consumer devices storing images typically at 8 bits per sample to high-end professional devices with sample fidelity and dynamic range requirements going all the way up to 16 bits per sample. Some usage scenarios that are facilitated by HEIF are described below:

Android devices containing the appropriate hardware encoders received support for HEIC files with the release of Android 10 (2019).<ref>{{Cite web |title=HEIF Imaging |url=https://source.android.com/docs/core/camera/heif |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=Android Open Source Project |language=en}}</ref>

=== Digital cameras and smartphones: ===

In order to save storage space [TODO: x-ref to compression results], HEIF-encapsulated HEVC-coded images can be used for compressing the full-resolution images while keeping a lower-resolution [[JPEG]] copy (e.g. at 4K resolution or below) for on-screen displaying purposes.

On some systems, pictures stored in the HEIC format are converted automatically to the older JPEG format when they are sent outside of the system, although incompatibility has led to problems such as US [[Advanced Placement]] test takers failing due to their phones uploading unsupported HEIC images by default,<ref name=":1">{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/20/21262302/ap-test-fail-iphone-photos-glitch-email-college-board-jpeg-heic |date=2020-05-02 |access-date=2022-08-25 |title=Students are failing AP tests because the College Board can't handle iPhone photos |publisher=[[The Verge]] |author= Monica Chin}}</ref> leading the [[College Board]] to request students change the settings to send only JPEG files.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=CollegeBoard |number=1260208235132436480 |title=If you want to submit a photo of a handwritten AP Exam answer from an iPhone or iPad, make sure to change your camera settings so your photos are saved as JPEGs, not HEICs.}}</ref>

Digital cameras and smartphones can use HEIF to achieve ''<u>convenient one-file packaging</u>'' of burst photos, focal stacks, and exposure stacks. Similarly, simultaneously captured video and still images can be stored in the same HEIF file. HEIF also enables storage of any image collections into a single file, hence they can be shared easily.

Although HEIC is gaining in popularity, it is not universally supported; [[Adobe Photoshop]] is an example of a popular image editing software that only supports 8-bit HEIC and not 10-bit or 12-bit HEIC.<ref>{{Cite web |title=File formats in Adobe Photoshop |url=https://helpx.adobe.com/au/photoshop/using/file-formats.html}}</ref>

=== Web pages and Internet-connected image applications: ===

The [http://www.w3.org/html/wg/drafts/html/master/semantics.html#the-picture-element picture element] of [[HTML5|HTML5.1]] provides the capability of indicating multiple alternatives for the same image, out of which the web browser can select the one that best suits its purpose. A motivation for web pages and connected applications to start using HEIF is to reduce the web page and/or image content download times [TODO: x-ref to compression results].

Camera hardware (including mobile devices) are increasingly supporting outputting HEIC files and with color depth often higher than 8-bit color.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A bit confused: what's a HEIF and why do we need 10-bit stills and video? |url=https://www.dpreview.com/learn/6184595294/10-bit-stills-a-look-at-raw-log-and-the-future-of-photography |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=DPReview}}</ref>

=== Image editing: ===

Changing of the orientation and cropping are basic features of HEIF and require no re-encoding of the images. Additionally, HEIF introduces a framework for non-destructive editing operations, which can be specified by external specifications. This feature can be used by image editing applications so that the editing instructions are kept in the same file as the original image.

== FeaturesSpecifications ==

HEIF files can store the following types of data:<ref name="JCTVC">{{cite web |url=http://phenix.int-evry.fr/jct/doc_end_user/current_document.php?id=10265 |title=Overview of the High Efficiency Image File Format |website=JCT-VC |publisher=document JCTVC-V0072 |date=October 2015 |author1=M. M. Hannuksela |author2=E. B. Aksu |author3=V. K. Malamal Vadakital |author4=J. Lainema |access-date=2015-11-25 |archive-date=2021-11-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124172021/http://phenix.int-evry.fr/jct/doc_end_user/current_document.php?id=10265 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In [[ISO base media file format|ISOBMFF]], a continuous or timed media/metadata stream forms a ''track'', whereas static media or metadata are stored as ''items''. Consequently, HEIF has the following basic design:

* Still images are stored as items. All image items are ''independently'' encoded and do not depend on any other item in their decoding. Any number of image items can be included in the same file.

* Image sequences are stored as ''tracks''. An image sequence track can be indicated to be displayed either as a timed sequence or in a non-timed manner, such as a gallery or album of images. When there is coding dependency between images, an image sequence track is used instead of image items.

* A file may contain both image items and image sequence tracks along with other media. For example, it is possible to create a HEIF file, which includes image items or image sequence tracks conforming to HEIF, and audio and/or timed text tracks conforming to any derivative format of the ISOBMFF

Keeping the above-mentioned design principles in mind, HEIF files can store the following types of data<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url = http://phenix.int-evry.fr/jct/doc_end_user/current_document.php?id=10265|title = Overview of the High Efficiency Image File Format|date = |accessdate = |website = |publisher = JCT-VC document JCTVC-V0072, Oct. 2015|last = M. M. Hannuksela, E. B. Aksu, V. K. Malamal Vadakital, J. Lainema|first = }}</ref>:

* '''Image Items:''' storage of individual images, image properties and thumbnail(s).

* '''Image Derivations:''' derived images are generated during run-time based on descriptions such as rotation, grid and overlay. These images depend on other images stored in the HEIF file. The storage overhead of derived images is small.

* '''Image Sequences''': storage of multiple time-related and/or temporally predicted images (like a burst-photo shot or cinemagraph animation), their properties and thumbnails. Different prediction options can be used in order to exploit the temporal and spatial similarities between the images. Hence, ''file sizes can be drastically reduced'' even when tens of images are stored in the same HEIF file.

* '''Auxiliary Image Items:''' storage of an image data which complements another image item. An alpha plane or a depth map are examples for such images. This data is not displayed as such, but used in various forms to complement another image item.

* '''Image Metadata:''' storage of [[Exchangeable image file format|EXIF]], [[Extensible Metadata Platform|XMP]] and similar metadata which accompany the images stored in the HEIF file.

Examples of above-mentioned entities can be found [http://nokiatech.github.io/heif/examples.html here].

; Image items: Storage of individual images, image properties and thumbnails.

== Comparison ==

; Image derivations: Derived images enable non-destructive image editing, and are created [[on the fly]] by the rendering software using editing instructions stored separately in the HEIF file. These instructions (rectangular cropping, rotation by one, two or three quarter-turns, timed graphic overlays, etc.) and images are stored separately in the HEIF file, and describe specific transformations to be applied to the input images. The storage overhead of derived images is small.

Below table shows a comparison of different image formats<ref name=":2" />:

; Image sequences:Storage of multiple time-related and/or temporally predicted images (like a [[burst mode (photography)|burst-photo shot]] or [[cinemagraph]] animation), their properties and thumbnails. Different prediction options can be used in order to exploit the temporal and spatial similarities between the images. Hence, file sizes can be drastically reduced when many images are stored in the same HEIF file.

{| class="wikitable"

; Auxiliary image items: Storage of image data, such as an [[alpha channel|alpha plane]] or a [[depth map]], which complements another image item. These data are not displayed as such, but used in various forms to complement another image item.

|+'''Comparison of the features of some image file formats'''

; Image metadata: Storage of [[Exif]], [[Extensible Metadata Platform|XMP]] and similar metadata which accompany the images stored in the HEIF file.

!

!HEIF (.heic)

!JPEG/Exif

!PNG

!GIF (89a)

!WebP

!JPEG-XR / TIFF

!JPEG-XR / JPX

!BPG

|-

|Formats and extensibility

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|-

|Base container file format

|ISOBMFF

|TIFF

| -

| -

|RIFF

|TIFF

| - ⁴

| -

|-

|Lossy compression

|Yes (HEVC)

|Yes (JPEG)

|No

|No

|Yes (VP8)

|Yes

|Yes

|Yes (HEVC¹⁰)

|-

|Lossless compression

|Yes (HEVC)

|Yes (TIFF Rev 6.0)

|Yes (PNG)¹

|Yes (GIF)¹

|Yes (VP8L)

|Yes

|Yes

|Yes (HEVC¹⁰)

|-

|Extensible to other coding formats

|Yes

|Yes⁸

|No

|No

|No

|Yes⁸

|Yes⁵

|No

|-

|Metadata format (on top of internal)

|Exif, XMP, MPEG-7

|Exif

| -

| -

|Exif, XMP

|Exif, XMP

|JPX, (XMP)⁶

|Exif, XMP

|-

|Extensible to other metadata formats

|Yes

|No

|No

|No

|No

|No

|Yes (XML-based)

|Yes

|-

|Other media types (audio, text, etc.)

|Yes

|Audio²

|No

|No

|No

|No

|Yes⁷

|No

|-

|Multi-picture features

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|-

|Multiple images in the same file

|Yes

|No¹¹

|No

|Yes³

|Yes³

|No

|Yes

|Yes⁹

|-

|Image sequences / animations

|Yes

|No

|No

|Yes

|Yes

|No

|Yes

|Yes

|-

|Image coding

|Yes

|No

|No

|No

|No

|No

|No

|Yes

|-

|Derived images

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|-

|Multiple-of-90-degree rotations

|Yes

|Yes

|No

|No

|No

|Yes

|Yes

|No

|-

|Cropping

|Yes

|No

|No

|No

|No

|No

|Yes

|No

|-

|Tiling/overlaying

|Yes

|No

|No

|No

|Yes

|No

|Yes

|No

|-

|Extensible to other editing operations

|Yes

|No

|No

|No

|No

|No

|No

|No

|-

|Auxiliary picture information

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|-

|Transparency (alpha plane)

|Yes

|No

|Yes

|No¹²

|Yes

|Yes

|Yes

|Yes

|-

|Thumbnail image

|Yes

|Yes

|No

|No

|No

|Yes

|Yes

|Yes

|}

== Encodings inside the container ==

1 In GIF and indexed color PNG encoding, lossy color quantization is applied while the color-quantized image is losslessly compressed.

The HEIF container can store the following encodings:

* JFIF (JPEG)

2 PCM, µ-Law PCM and ADPCM encapsulated in RIFF WAV

* AV1

* HEVC

As users cannot easily tell what encoding and encoding parameters an image was stored in, the HEIF container format can be confusing and makes comparison statements like “HEIF is better than JPEG” vague and inaccurate.

3 Only for animations and tiling/overlaying

Simply knowing a file is in the HEIF container does not reveal much information, as it could be:

4 JPX is a box-structured format compatible with ISOBMFF. However, only the File Type box is common in JPX and ISOBMFF.

* a JFIF (JPEG);

5 Encapsulation of JPEG-2000 and JPEG-XR have been specified for JPX container. Mappings for other codecs could be similarly specified.

* a poor quality (default settings) AV1; or

* a very high quality AV1 encoding (which takes a lot of processing power and takes a few minutes to encode); or

* an HEVC with poor quality parameters; or

* an HEVC with high quality parameters.

{{anchor|MIAF}}{{anchor|MPEG-A}}

6 JPX (ITU-T T.800 and T.801) specifies an own metadata schema, but is capable of carrying an XML formatted metadata, such as XMP.

=== MIAF ===

7 JPX can contain media complying with ISOBMFF (or derivatives thereof). No accurate synchronization between JPX animations and other media.

The Multi-Image Application Format (MIAF) is a restricted subset of HEIF specified as part of [[MPEG-A]].

It defines a set of additional constraints to simplify format options, specific alpha plane formats, profiles and levels as well as metadata formats and brands, and rules for how to extend the format.<ref name="MIAF">{{citation |title= ISO/IEC 23000-22. Multimedia application format (MPEG-A) — Part 22: Multi-image application format (MIAF) |publisher= ISO/IEC MPEG |url= https://www.iso.org/standard/74417.html |access-date= 2020-04-29 |archive-date= 2020-04-26 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200426173836/https://www.iso.org/standard/74417.html |url-status= live }}</ref>

{{anchor|HEIC}}{{anchor|HEVC}}

8 TIFF as a container format facilitates extensions to other coding formats.

=== HEIC: HEVC in HEIF ===

9 Only for animations, thumbnails, and alpha planes. Non-timed image collections not supported.

[[High Efficiency Video Coding]] (HEVC, ITU-T H.265)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tidbits.com/2020/06/26/what-the-heic-apples-highly-compressed-image-format-still-confuses/|title=What the HEIC? Apple's Highly Compressed Image Format Still Confuses|publisher=TidBITS|first=Glenn|last=Fleishman|date=26 June 2020|access-date=28 June 2020|archive-date=28 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628103743/https://tidbits.com/2020/06/26/what-the-heic-apples-highly-compressed-image-format-still-confuses/|url-status=live}}</ref> is an encoding format for graphic data, first standardized in 2013.

It is the primarily used and implied default codec for HEIF as specified in the normative Annex B to ISO/IEC 23008-12 ''HEVC Image File Format''.

While not introduced formally in the standard, the acronym <dfn><abbr title="High-Efficiency Image Codec">HEIC</abbr></dfn> (High-Efficiency Image Codec) is used as a ''brand'' and in the MIME subtypes <code>image/heic</code> and <code>image/heic-sequence</code>. If the content conforms to certain [[HEVC#Profiles|HEVC profiles]], more specific brands can be used: <dfn>HEIX</dfn> for Main 10 of HEVC, <dfn>HEIM</dfn> for (Multiview) Main profile, and <dfn>HEIS</dfn> for (Scalable) Main (10) profile of L-HEVC.

10 HEVC Main 4:4:4 16 Still Picture profile, Level 8.5, with additional constraints

A HEIC photo takes up about half the space of an equivalent quality JPEG file.<ref name=HEVCApril2012I0461>{{cite news |title=On HEVC still picture coding performance |first1=Jani |last1=Lainema |first2=Kemal |last2=Ugur |publisher=JCT-VC |url=http://phenix.it-sudparis.eu/jct/doc_end_user/current_document.php?id=5721 |date=2012-04-20 |access-date=2013-01-22}}</ref> The initial HEIF specification already defined the means of storing HEVC-encoded [[Video compression picture types|intra images]] (''i-frames'') and HEVC-encoded image sequences in which [[inter frame|inter prediction]] is applied in a constrained manner.

11 Can be enabled through the MP extension

HEVC<!-- or HEIF? --> image players are required to support rectangular cropping and rotation by one, two, and three quarter-turns. The primary use case for the mandatory support for rotation by 90 degrees is for images where the camera orientation is incorrectly detected or inferred. The rotation requirement makes it possible to manually adjust the orientation of a still image or an image sequence without needing to re-encode it. Cropping enables the image to be re-framed without re-encoding. The HEVC file format also includes the option to store pre-derived images.<ref name="Nokia">{{cite web |url=https://nokiatech.github.io/heif/technical.html |title=HEIF Technical Information |subject=High Efficiency Image File Format |publisher=Nokia |website=nokiatech.github.io |at=Images in HEIF Files |access-date=2018-02-01 |archive-date=2018-02-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201152802/http://nokiatech.github.io/heif/technical.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

12 A palette index for fully transparency can be specified.

Samples in image sequence tracks must be either intra-coded images or inter-picture predicted images with reference to only intra-coded images. These constraints of inter-picture prediction reduce the decoding latency for accessing any particular image within a HEVC image sequence track.

The following references are used in the comparison:

{| class="wikitable"

!Image format

!Version or date

!Reference and/or URL

|-

|HEIF (.heic)

|03/2015

|ISO/IEC 23008-12

http://mpeg.chiariglione.org/standards/mpeg-h/image-file-format/draft-text-isoiec-fdis-23008-12-carriage-still-image-and-image

|-

|JPEG

|

|<nowiki>ISO/IEC 10918-1 | ITU-T Rec. T.81</nowiki>

http://www.w3.org/Graphics/JPEG/itu-t81.pdf

|-

|Exif

|

|http://www.cipa.jp/std/documents/e/DC-008-2012_E.pdf

|-

|PNG

|

|http://www.w3.org/TR/PNG/

|-

|GIF

|89a

|http://www.w3.org/Graphics/GIF/spec-gif89a.txt

|-

|WebP

|

|https://developers.google.com/speed/webp/docs/riff_container<nowiki/>VP8L: https://developers.google.com/speed/webp/docs/webp_lossless_bitstream_specification

|-

|JPEG-XR

|

|[[JPEG XR|ISO/IEC 29199-2]]<nowiki> | ITU-T Rec. T.832</nowiki>

[[JPEG 2000|ISO/IEC 15444-2]] | ITU-T Rec. T.801 (for JPX)

|-

|BPG

|0.9.5

|http://bellard.org/bpg/bpg_spec.txt

|}

The ''.heic'' and ''.heics'' file name extensions are conventionally used for HEVC-coded HEIF files.<ref name="WWDC2017 511">{{cite web |url=https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2017/511 |title=Working with HEIF and HEVC - WWDC 2017 - Videos |website=Apple Developer |access-date=2019-01-19 |archive-date=2019-01-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190120194504/https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2017/511 |url-status=live }}</ref> Apple products, for instance,<ref name="WWDC2017 513">{{cite web |url=https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2017/513 |title=High Efficiency Image File Format |time=0:09:26 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]] |date=June 2017 |access-date=2017-11-22 |archive-date=2017-12-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201032622/https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2017/513 |url-status=live }}</ref> will only produce files with these extensions, which indicate clearly that the data went through HEVC encoding.<ref name="CNET">{{cite web |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-ios-boosts-heif-photos-over-jpeg-wwdc |title=How Apple is squeezing more photos into your iPhone – FAQ: Apple's newest iPhone software attempts to move the world out of the JPEG era. |publisher=[[CNET]] |first=Stephen |last=Shankland |date=June 16, 2017 |access-date=2017-11-21 |archive-date=2017-11-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116181530/https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-ios-boosts-heif-photos-over-jpeg-wwdc/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Note: It is acknowledged that a summary such as that in the comparison table might be somewhat incomplete when it comes to features of different formats. For example, the table does not cover some of the extensions of JPEG.

{{anchor|AVCI}}{{anchor|AVC}}

TODO: Add compression performance.

=== SyntaxAVCI: andAVC Structurein HEIF ===

HEIF conforms to the [[ISO base media file format|ISO Base Media File Format]] (ISO/IEC 14496-12). Image items are stored in root level meta box and image sequences are stored as video media tracks.

[[H.264/MPEG-4 AVC|Advanced Video Coding]] (AVC, ITU-T H.264) is an older encoding format for video and images, first standardized in 2003.

A file may contain both image items and image sequence tracks along with other media. For example, it is possible to create a file, which includes image items or image sequence tracks conforming to HEIF, and audio and timed text tracks conforming to any derivative format of the ISOBMFF.

It is also specified as a codec to be supported in HEIF in normative Annex 5 to ISO/IEC 23008-12.

The registered MIME types are <code>image/avci</code> for still images and <code>image/avcs</code> for sequences. The format is simply known as AVCI.

Apple products support playback of AVC-encoded ''.avci'' still image files and ''.avcs'' image sequence files<ref name="WWDC2017 513"/> but will only generate ''.heic'' files.

[[File:HEIF and ISO base media file.png|centre|thumb|HEIF and ISO Base Media File|642x642px]]

=== AVIF: AV1 in HEIF{{Anchor|AVIF|AV1}} ===

Files conforming to ISOBMFF consist of a sequence of data structures called boxes, each containing a four-character code (4CC) indicating the type of the box, the size of the box in terms of bytes, and the payload of the box. Boxes may be nested, i.e. a box may contain other boxes. ISOBMFF and HEIF specify constraints on the allowed box order and hierarchy.

{{About|AV1 and AVIF|AVI|Audio Video Interleave|section=yes}}

{{Main|AVIF}}

[[AV1]] is a video encoding format that is intended to be royalty-free, developed by the [[Alliance for Open Media]] (AOMedia). [[AVIF|AV1 Image File Format]] (AVIF) is an image format based on this codec.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/google-mozilla-av1-photo-format-could-outdo-aging-jpeg/ |title=Apple wants to shrink your photos, but a new format from Google and Mozilla could go even farther |date=2018-01-19 |work=CNET |access-date=2018-02-01 |archive-date=2018-02-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201171037/https://www.cnet.com/news/google-mozilla-av1-photo-format-could-outdo-aging-jpeg/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The registered MIME type is <code>image/avif</code> for both still images and image sequences, and ''.avif'' is the file name extension.<ref name="aomediacodec.github.io av1-avif">{{cite web |url=https://aomediacodec.github.io/av1-avif/ |title=AV1 Image File Format (AVIF) |website=AOMediaCodec.GitHub.io |access-date=25 February 2023 |archive-date=24 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224122030/https://aomediacodec.github.io/av1-avif/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Image Items ===

The roles of image items as specified in HEIF are listed and described below. Note that a single image can be associated with more than one role.

=== JPEG compression formats in HEIF files{{anchor|JPEG}} ===

{| class="wikitable"

!

'''Role'''

!

'''Description'''

|-

|

coded image

|

A coded representation of an image.

|-

|

derived image

|

An image that is represented in a file by an indicated operation to indicated input images and can be obtained by performing the operation to the input images.

|-

|

cover image

(a.k.a. primary item)

|

A representative image of the image items and image sequence tracks of the file. The cover image should be displayed when no other information is available on the preference to display the image items of the file. The file can have only one cover image.

|-

|

thumbnail image

|

A smaller-resolution representation of a master image. A master image can have multiple thumbnail images (e.g. different resolutions).

|-

|

auxiliary image

|

An image that complements a master image. For example, an alpha plane or a depth map. Can assist in displaying the master image but is not typically displayed as such.

|-

|

master image

|

An image that is not a thumbnail image or an auxiliary image. It typically represents a full-resolution displayable image.

|-

|

hidden image

|

An image that should never be displayed. Can be present in the file for example as an input image for a derived image.

|-

|

pre-derived coded image

|

A coded image that has been derived from other images. For example, a high dynamic range image derived from an exposure-bracketed set of images. The input images used for derivation are linked to the final pre-derived coded image by referencing. No derivation operation is defined.

|}

HEIF allows the storage of image properties which are shared among different image items. There are two types of properties: ''descriptive'' and ''transformative''. Descriptive properties provide information about the image item without applying modifications on the image itself. Transformative properties provide information about the transformative modification that needs to be done on the image item. The HEIF standard specifies transformative properties for rotation by 90, 180, and 270 degrees and cropping. In addition to descriptive image properties, image items can optionally be characterized with metadata items, the format of which follows e.g. Exif or XMP metadata.

The original [[JPEG]] standard is the most commonly used and widely supported lossy image coding format. It was first released in 1992 by [[ITU-T]] and [[ISO/IEC]]. Although Annex H to ISO/IEC 23008-12 specifies JPEG (and indirectly [[Motion JPEG]]) as a possible format for HEIF coded image data, it is used in HEIF only for thumbnails and other secondary images. Therefore, neither a dedicated MIME subtype nor a special file extension is available for storage of JPEG files in HEIF container files.

=== Derived Images ===

Derived images enable non-destructive image editing, where the original coded images are kept in the file, while new images, called derived images, can be introduced by specifying a transformation operation that is applied to one or more input images. HEIF specifies the generic structures used for storing derived images as items as well as a few specific types of derived images. The item type of a derived image item indicates the transformation operation, while the item payload contains the input parameters to the operation. The input images can be coded images or derived images. The derived image types specified in the HEIF standard are listed below. Other types may be specified in other documents or later versions of the HEIF standard.

Several other compression formats defined by the JPEG group can be stored in HEIF files:

{| class="wikitable"

* Part 16 of the [[JPEG 2000]] standard suite (ISO/IEC 15444-16 and ITU-T Rec. T.815) defines how to store JPEG 2000 images in HEIF container files.<ref name=":2">{{cite web |url=https://www.iso.org/standard/80620.html |title=ISO/IEC 15444-16:2021 - Information technology — JPEG 2000 image coding system — Part 16: Encapsulation of JPEG 2000 images into ISO/IEC 23008-12 |publisher=ISO |date=2020-01-22 |access-date=2021-11-24 |archive-date=2021-11-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117211428/https://www.iso.org/standard/80620.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":3">{{cite web |author=tsbmail |url=https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-T.815 |title=T.815 : Information technology - JPEG 2000 image coding system - Encapsulation of JPEG 2000 images into ISO/IEC 23008-12 |publisher=Itu.int |date=2021-11-11 |access-date=2021-11-24 |archive-date=2021-11-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117211438/https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-T.815 |url-status=live }}</ref> Part 2 of the JPEG 2000 suite (ISO/IEC 15444-2 and ITU-T Rec. T.801)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.iso.org/standard/81547.html |title=ISO/IEC 15444-2:2021 - Information technology — JPEG 2000 image coding system — Part 2: Extensions |publisher=ISO |date=2020-07-29 |access-date=2021-11-24 |archive-date=2021-11-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117211410/https://www.iso.org/standard/81547.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=tsbmail |url=https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-T.801 |title=T.801 : Information technology-JPEG 2000 image coding system - Extensions |publisher=Itu.int |date=2021-10-29 |access-date=2021-11-24 |archive-date=2021-11-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117211433/https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-T.801 |url-status=live }}</ref> also defines a different format for storing JPEG 2000 images in files that is also based on ISOBMFF.

! colspan="3" |Derived Image Items

* Annex F of the [[JPEG XR]] image coding standard (ISO/IEC 29199-2 and ITU-T Rec. T.832) defines how to store JPEG&nbsp;XR images in HEIF container files.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.iso.org/standard/79414.html |title=ISO/IEC 29199-2:2020 - Information technology — JPEG XR image coding system — Part 2: Image coding specification |publisher=ISO |date=2019-08-29 |access-date=2021-11-24 |archive-date=2021-11-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117211417/https://www.iso.org/standard/79414.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=tsbmail |url=https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-T.832 |title=T.832 : Information technology - JPEG XR image coding system - Image coding specification |publisher=Itu.int |date= |access-date=2021-11-24 |archive-date=2021-11-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116084448/https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-T.832 |url-status=live }}</ref> Annex A of JPEG XR also defines a different file format for storing JPEG&nbsp;XR images in files that is [[TIFF]]-based, and Part&nbsp;2 of the JPEG 2000 suite (ISO/IEC 15444-2 and ITU-T Rec. T.801) also supports a third file format for storing JPEG&nbsp;XR images in files that is based on ISOBMFF.

|-

* [[JPEG XS]] has its HEIF container support defined in ISO/IEC 21122-3.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.iso.org/standard/74537.html |title=ISO/IEC 21122-3:2019 - Information technology — JPEG XS low-latency lightweight image coding system — Part 3: Transport and container formats |publisher=ISO |date=2017-08-25 |access-date=2021-11-24 |archive-date=2021-11-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117211402/https://www.iso.org/standard/74537.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

|

'''Name'''

|

'''Item 4CC'''

|

'''Description'''

|-

|

Identity transformation

|

iden

|

Cropping and/or rotation by 90,

180, or 270 degrees, imposed through the respective transformative

properties.

|-

|

Image overlay

|

iovl

|

Overlaying any number of input

images in indicated order and locations onto the canvas of the output image.

|-

|

Image grid

|

grid

|

Reconstructing a grid of input

images of the same width and height.

|}

In 2017, [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] announced that it would adopt HEIC as the default image format in its new operating systems, gradually replacing JPEG.<ref name="fera">{{cite web |last1=Rus |first1=Cristian |title=Así es HEIF, el nuevo formato de imagen con el que Apple quiere acabar con JPEG |url=https://www.applesfera.com/ios/asi-es-heif-el-nuevo-formato-de-imagen-con-el-que-apple-quiere-acabar-con-jpeg |website=Applesfera |access-date=2020-03-22 |language=es |date=2017-06-26 |archive-date=2020-03-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321225141/https://www.applesfera.com/ios/asi-es-heif-el-nuevo-formato-de-imagen-con-el-que-apple-quiere-acabar-con-jpeg |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Image Sequences ===

An image sequence track inherits the properties and features of a video track of ISOBMFF. A key difference between an image sequence track and a video track lies in the interpretation of the timing information given for the track: While the timing information given for a video track adheres the decoding and output timing of the contained video bitstream, the timing information of an image sequence track can represent the capture times (e.g. for separate images of an exposure stack) or the suggested display timing (e.g. for a slide show). It can be indicated whether an image sequence track should be played as a timed sequence or by some non-timed means, such as an image gallery.

=== WXAM, SharpP ===

HEIF allows the use of [[Inter prediction|inter-picture prediction]] (a.k.a. inter coding), which can provide significant coding efficiency improvement to image sequences when images are correlated. Such correlation is especially evident in content like image bursts or animation clips. When inter coding is in use, accessing and decoding a particular picture from an image sequence also requires decoding of its reference pictures for inter prediction. HEIF specifies indications assisting players in random access.

{{Cleanup section|reason=reliable and independent English sources are hard to find|date=December 2021}}

The proprietary image format WXAM (or wxHEPC) developed by [[Tencent]] (used within, e.g., [[WeChat]]) is apparently based upon HEVC,<ref name="51cto">{{cite web|url=https://blog.51cto.com/u_13591395/2066880|date=2018-01-30|author=Tencent Technology|title=如何节省1Tb图片带宽？解密极致图像压缩！_腾讯技术工程的技术博客_51Cto博客|trans-title=How do we save 1TB on image bandwidth? Declassifying our extreme image compression! |publisher=51CTO}}</ref> as is SharpP, which was developed by their SNG (Social Network Group) division.<ref name="SharpP">{{cite web|url=https://cloud.tencent.com/developer/article/1004404|date=2017-06-30|title=图片流量节省大杀器：基于 CDN 的 sharpP 自适应图片技术实践 - 腾讯云开发者社区-腾讯云|trans-title=Image bandwidth-saving weapon: Practical CDN-deployed self-adapting sharpP images }}{{cite web|url=https://cloud.tencent.com/developer/article/1555426|date=2019-12-17|title=秒开率达90%：腾讯看点客户端 Gif 转视频优化方案 - 腾讯云开发者社区-腾讯云|trans-title=Instant load in 90% of cases: Tencent Kandian GIF-to-video solution }}</ref><ref name="SharpP-Is-TPG">{{cite web|url=https://cloud.tencent.com/developer/article/1029772|date=2017-12-27|title=腾讯社交网络图片带宽优化技术演进之路 - 腾讯云开发者社区-腾讯云|trans-title=Timeline for Tencent's optimization of social network image delivery |quote=SharpP工具从17年3月开始，已采用AVS2作为新的内核；17年5月正式对外推出基于AVS2的图片格式，联合北大、AVS组织一起完善相关规范，并命名为TPG（Tiny Portable Graphics）|trans-quote=Since March 2017, SharpP uses AVS2 as its new core. In May 2017, [we] made the new AVS2-based format public, completing the standard with Peking University and AVS the organization, and named it TPG (Tiny Portable Graphics)}}</ref> However, their container format may not be HEIF-compatible. In March 2017, SharpP switched to [[AVS2]]<ref name="TPGavs2">{{cite web|url=https://cloud.tencent.com/developer/article/1871646|date=2018-02-01|trans-title=Avs2-based image container: TPG: current situation and roadmap for improvement (Interview with Tencent's Audio-Video Lab)|title=基于Avs2的图片容器——TPG：现状与改进之路 - 腾讯云开发者社区-腾讯云 }}</ref> and was renamed TPG (''Tiny Portable Graphics'').<ref name="SharpP-Is-TPG"/><ref name=TPG>{{cite web|url=https://cloud.tencent.com/developer/article/1005004|date=2017-05-10|title=超越 Google，腾讯推出自研图片编码格式 TPG - 腾讯云开发者社区-腾讯云|trans-title=Ahead of Google: Tencent introduces independent image codec TPG }}</ref>

Roles can be indicated for image sequence tracks similarly to image items. Below is the list of roles of the image sequence tracks:

== Support ==

{| class="wikitable"

{{See also|AVIF#Support}}

*[[Nokia]] provides an open source C++ HEIF decoder, that also has a [[Java (programming language)|Java]] API.<ref name="Nokia" />

|

* The open source library "libheif" supports reading and writing HEIF files.<ref name="libheif">{{cite web |url=https://github.com/strukturag/libheif|title=strukturag/libheif |date=May 17, 2021|via=GitHub |access-date=May 2, 2018 |archive-date=June 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180602131612/https://github.com/strukturag/libheif |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=strukturag/libheif|url=https://github.com/strukturag/libheif/releases|access-date=2020-06-17|website=GitHub |archive-date=2020-06-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618003355/https://github.com/strukturag/libheif/releases|url-status=live}}</ref> From version 1.8.0, both reading and writing HEIC and [[AVIF]] are supported.<ref name="libheif" />

'''Role'''

* An image codec called CopyTrans HEIC, which is free for personal use and available for Windows versions 7 through 10, supports opening HEIF files in [[Windows Photo Viewer]] without the Microsoft codec installed. (The Microsoft HEIC codec is only available for Windows 10, version 1803 and up in the Photos [[Universal Windows Platform|UWP]] app.)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.copytrans.net/copytransheic/|title=Open HEIC files on Windows|website=CopyTrans.net|access-date=2018-09-27|archive-date=2018-09-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916121137/https://www.copytrans.net/copytransheic/|url-status=live}}</ref>

|

=== Operating systems ===

'''Description'''

* [[Windows 10]] [[Windows 10 version history|version 1803]] and later (HEIC), [[Windows 10 version history|version 1903]] and later (AVIF): [https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/heif-image-extensions/9pmmsr1cgpwg HEIF Image Extension] is needed to read and write files that use the HEIF format. [https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/hevc-video-extensions/9nmzlz57r3t7 HEVC Video Extensions] is needed to play and produce HEVC-encoded video content. A small amount of money is charged for the use of the HEVC codec, whereas support for the generic HEIF format and the AVC and AV1 extensions are free.<ref name="Win1083">{{cite news |url=https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2018/03/16/announcing-windows-10-insider-preview-build-17123-for-fast/#UpPIwc3yVgJHc5Q8.97 |title=Announcing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 17123 for Fast Ring Subscribers |access-date=2018-03-16 |archive-date=2020-08-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806161103/https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2018/03/16/announcing-windows-10-insider-preview-build-17123-for-fast/#UpPIwc3yVgJHc5Q8.97 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{citation needed|reason=This material is by Microsoft itself and doesn't address the possibility to plug Open-Source encoders/decoders into the system|date=October 2024}}

|-

* [[Windows 11]]: since 22H2, Windows 11 has HEIF Image Extension built-in by default.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/forum/all/heic-format-support-changes-in-2023-11-cumulative|title=HEIC format support changes in 2023-11 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5032190)|date=2023-11-19}}</ref>

|

* [[macOS High Sierra]] and later (HEIC only)<ref name="CBS">{{cite web |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-answers-iphone-storage-woes-with-smaller-photos-videos/ |title=Apple answers iPhone storage woes with smaller photos, videos |last=Hollister |first=Sean |date=2017-06-05 |website=[[CNET]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=2017-09-30 |archive-date=2021-01-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122041854/https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-answers-iphone-storage-woes-with-smaller-photos-videos/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Since [[macOS Mojave]], Apple uses HEIF in creating the Dynamic Desktop feature.<ref name="Itnext ft 1">{{cite web |url=https://itnext.io/macos-mojave-dynamic-wallpaper-fd26b0698223 |title=macOS Mojave dynamic wallpaper |publisher=ITNEXT |first=Marcin |last=Czachurski |date=2018-06-29 |access-date=2018-09-18 |archive-date=2019-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190303005413/https://itnext.io/macos-mojave-dynamic-wallpaper-fd26b0698223 |url-status=live }}</ref>

thumbnail image sequence

* [[iOS 11]] and later (HEIC only)<ref name="MacWorld iOS11">{{cite web |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/3226490/ios/ios-11-hevc-heif-and-what-you-need-to-know-about-these-new-video-and-photo-formats.html |title=iOS 11: HEVC, HEIF, and what you need to know about these new video and photo formats |last=Snell |first=Jason |date=2017-09-20 |work=[[Macworld]] |access-date=2017-09-30 |archive-date=2018-11-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116061419/https://www.macworld.com/article/3226490/ios/ios-11-hevc-heif-and-what-you-need-to-know-about-these-new-video-and-photo-formats.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="LesShu">{{cite web |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/photography/heif-and-hevc-ios-11-macos-high-sierra/ |title=Here's what HEIF and HEVC are, and why they'll improve your iPhone with iOS 11 |last=Shu |first=Les |date=September 19, 2017 |website=[[Digital Trends]] |access-date=2017-09-30 |archive-date=2021-01-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122002905/https://www.digitaltrends.com/photography/heif-and-hevc-ios-11-macos-high-sierra/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[iOS 16]] and later AVIF<ref>{{cite web | url=https://webkit.org/blog/13152/webkit-features-in-safari-16-0/ | title=WebKit Features in Safari 16.0 | date=12 September 2022 }}</ref>

*Apple supports playback of ''.heif'' for still image files and ''.heifs'' for image sequence files<ref name="WWDC2017 513" /> created on other devices that are encoded using any codec, provided that codec is supported by the operating system.<ref name="WWDC2017 503">{{cite web |date=2017-06-06 |title=Introducing HEIF and HEVC |url=https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2017/503 |access-date=2017-11-22 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]] |time=0:13:47 |archive-date=2017-12-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201040858/https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2017/503 |url-status=live }}</ref>

|

* [[Android Oreo|Android 8 (Oreo)]] and later (HEIF), [[Android 10]] and later (HEIC), [[Android 12]] and later (AVIF).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/media/media-formats|title=Supported media formats|access-date=2021-08-19|archive-date=2016-12-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220161956/https://developer.android.com/guide/appendix/media-formats.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=HEIF Imaging |url=https://source.android.com/devices/camera/heif |access-date=2022-08-05 |website=Android Open Source Project }}</ref><ref name="Android">{{cite news |url=https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2018/03/previewing-android-p.html |title=Previewing Android P |work=Android Developers Blog |access-date=2018-03-07 |archive-date=2021-05-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518102003/https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2018/03/previewing-android-p.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2019/03/introducing-android-q-beta.html|title=Introducing Android Q Beta|access-date=2020-05-22|archive-date=2019-05-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507090246/https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2019/03/introducing-android-q-beta.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Android 13]] and higher support 10-bit camera output.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=10-Bit Camera Output |url=https://source.android.com/docs/core/camera/10-bit-camera-output |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=Android Open Source Project |language=en}}</ref>

A smaller-resolution

* [[Ubuntu]] 20.04 and later (HEIC)<ref>{{cite web|title=software recommendation - Any app on Ubuntu to open and/or convert HEIF pictures (.HEIC, High Efficiency Image File Format)?|url=https://askubuntu.com/questions/958355/any-app-on-ubuntu-to-open-and-or-convert-heif-pictures-heic-high-efficiency-i|access-date=2020-10-09|website=Ask Ubuntu|archive-date=2020-11-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111221257/https://askubuntu.com/questions/958355/any-app-on-ubuntu-to-open-and-or-convert-heif-pictures-heic-high-efficiency-i|url-status=live}}</ref>

representation of a master image sequence.

* [[Debian]] 10.13 ("buster") or later<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tracker.debian.org/pkg/libheif|title=Libheif - Debian Package Tracker }}</ref>

* [[Fedora Linux|Fedora]] 36 or later<ref>{{cite web|url=https://packages.fedoraproject.org/pkgs/libheif/libheif/|title=Libheif - Fedora Packages }}</ref>

|-

|

=== Web browsers ===

auxiliary image sequence

{{As of|2024|August}}, only Safari supports HEIC format natively.<ref>{{cite web|title=Can I use... Support tables for HTML5, CSS3, etc|url=https://caniuse.com/heif|access-date=2024-08-27|website=caniuse.com}}</ref>

|

An image sequence that complements

For AVIF, [[Google Chrome|Chrome]], [[Firefox]] and [[Opera (web browser)|Opera]] for desktop and Android support it. [[Safari (web browser)|Safari]] on iOS 16 and [[iPadOS 16]] supports AVIF format.<ref>{{Cite web|title=AVIF image format {{!}} Can I use... Support tables for HTML5, CSS3, etc|url=https://caniuse.com/avif|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126001819/https://caniuse.com/avif|archive-date=2022-01-26|access-date=2022-02-07|website=caniuse.com}}</ref>

a master image sequence. For example, a sequence of alpha plane or depth map

images. Can assist in displaying the master image sequence but is not

=== Image editing software ===

typically displayed as such.

* [[Adobe Lightroom]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-cc/kb/heic-files-support.html |title=HEIC and HEVC media files support in Lightroom and Camera Raw |website=helpx.adobe.com |access-date=2019-07-29 |archive-date=2021-01-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122040947/https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-cc/kb/heic-files-support.html |url-status=live }}</ref> (macOS 10.13+, iOS 11+, Windows 10+, and Android 9+)

|-

*[[Adobe Photoshop]]

|

**(Note that Photoshop for Windows requires the installation of both the HEIF and HEVC CODECs available from Microsoft.)<ref>{{cite web|title=File formats in Adobe Photoshop|url=https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/file-formats.html#HEIFHEIC|access-date=2020-12-14|website=helpx.adobe.com|archive-date=2020-12-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208062335/https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/file-formats.html#HEIFHEIC|url-status=live}}</ref>

master image sequence

**Photoshop reads HEIC files, but as of 2022 does not allow saving to that format.

* [[Affinity Photo]]

|

* [[GIMP]] supports reading and exporting to HEIF since version 2.10.2, released in May 2018.<ref>{{cite web |last=Pagès |first=Jehan |title=GIMP 2.10.2 Released |url=https://www.gimp.org/news/2018/05/20/gimp-2-10-2-released/ |website=gimp.org |access-date=2019-11-22 |date=2018-05-20 |archive-date=2020-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109012529/https://www.gimp.org/news/2018/05/20/gimp-2-10-2-released/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.gimp.org/news/2018/05/20/gimp-2-10-2-released/ |title=GIMP 2.10.2 Released |work=GIMP News |date=2018-05-20 |access-date=2018-05-22 |archive-date=2020-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109012529/https://www.gimp.org/news/2018/05/20/gimp-2-10-2-released/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

An image sequence that is not a

* [[Darktable]]

thumbnail image sequence or an auxiliary image sequence. Typically contains full-resolution displayable

* [[Digikam]] (supports 10-bit HEIC)

images.

* [[GraphicConverter]]

* [[gThumb]]

|}

* [[ImageMagick]]

* [[Krita]]<ref>{{Cite news |title=Krita 4.1 Release Notes |url=https://krita.org/en/krita-4-1-release-notes |url-status=live |access-date=2018-11-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119214332/https://krita.org/en/krita-4-1-release-notes/ |archive-date=2018-11-19}}</ref>

* [[Paint.net]]<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://blog.getpaint.net/2019/07/13/paint-net-4-2-is-now-available/ |title=paint.net 4.2 is now available! |date=2019-07-13 |access-date=2019-07-13 |archive-date=2019-07-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714000839/https://blog.getpaint.net/2019/07/13/paint-net-4-2-is-now-available/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

* [[PaintShop Pro]]

* [[Pixelmator]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Friday |first=William Gallagher |date=2018-11-16 |title=How to work with, edit, and share HEIC images without data loss |url=https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/11/16/how-to-work-with-edit-and-share-heic-images-without-data-loss |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190120093502/https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/11/16/how-to-work-with-edit-and-share-heic-images-without-data-loss |archive-date=2019-01-20 |access-date=2019-01-19 |website=Apple Insider }}</ref>

* [[Zoner Photo Studio|Zoner Photo Studio X]]<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.dpreview.com/news/2259298719/zoner-photo-studio-x-brings-support-for-the-heif-image-format-to-windows |title=Zoner Photo Studio X brings support for the HEIF image format to Windows |work=DPReview |access-date=2018-03-20 |archive-date=2021-01-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123080840/https://www.dpreview.com/news/2259298719/zoner-photo-studio-x-brings-support-for-the-heif-image-format-to-windows |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="DIY Photography">{{Cite news |url=https://www.diyphotography.net/heif-support-comes-windows-zoner-photo-studio/ |title=HEIF support comes to Windows with Zoner Photo Studio |date=2017-11-28 |work=DIY Photography |access-date=2018-03-20 |archive-date=2021-01-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121024929/https://www.diyphotography.net/heif-support-comes-windows-zoner-photo-studio/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

* [[ACDSee]] (read-only)

* [[XnView]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pierre |first=GOUGELET |title=Supported graphic and image formats {{!}} XnView.com |url=https://www.xnview.com/en/image_formats/ |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=XnView Software |language=en}}</ref>

=== Image libraries ===

* [https://github.com/strukturag/libheif libheif] – ISO/IEC 23008-12:2017 HEIF and AVIF decoder and encoder.

* [https://sail.software SAIL] – format-agnostic library with support of HEIC implemented on top of libavif.

* [[FFmpeg]]

* [https://github.com/Xelitan/AVIF-and-HEIC-for-Delphi-Lazarus AVIF and HEIC unit] - Delphi/Lazarus wrapper for libavif

* [https://www.idrsolutions.com/jdeli/ JDeli] - Java Image library with HEIC support

* [https://github.com/nokiatech/heif?tab=License-1-ov-file Nokiatech] - Nokia's HEIF library with Java wrapper

=== Hardware ===

* The [[Canon EOS-1D X Mark III]], [[Canon EOS R5]], [[Canon EOS R6]] and [[Canon EOS R8]] cameras use the HEIF format to capture images in an [[High-dynamic-range television|HDR display format]] that use the [[Perceptual Quantizer|PQ]] tone curve, [[Rec. 2100|BT.2100]] color primaries and 10-bit.<ref>https://media.the-digital-picture.com/Information/Canon-EOS-1D-X-Mark-III-Still-Image-White-Paper.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121225222/https://media.the-digital-picture.com/Information/Canon-EOS-1D-X-Mark-III-Still-Image-White-Paper.pdf |date=2021-01-21 }} page 45</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://github.com/lclevy/canon_cr3/blob/master/heif.md |title=Inside Canon HEIF |website=github.com |date=2020-03-16 |access-date=2020-03-16 |archive-date=2020-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101011728/https://github.com/lclevy/canon_cr3/blob/master/heif.md |url-status=live }}</ref> "We've moved on to HEIF files," Canon said in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/news/canon-abandoning-jpg-weve-moved-on-to-heif-files |title=Canon graduates from JPG: 'We've moved on to HEIF files…' |work=Digital Camera World |date=October 29, 2019 |first=James |last=Artaius |access-date=September 20, 2020 |archive-date=September 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925114136/https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/news/canon-abandoning-jpg-weve-moved-on-to-heif-files |url-status=live }}</ref>

* The [[Sony α1]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://electronics.sony.com/imaging/interchangeable-lens-cameras/full-frame/p/ilce1-b|title=Sony Alpha 1 Full-frame Interchangeable Lens Mirrorless Camera &#124; ILCE1/B &#124; Sony US |website=Electronics.Sony.com| access-date=2021-05-18|archive-date=2021-05-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518042416/https://electronics.sony.com/imaging/interchangeable-lens-cameras/full-frame/p/ilce1-b|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Sony α7 IV]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/e-mount-body-ilce-7-series/ilce-7m4/specifications|title=ILCE-7M4 Specifications|website=electronics.sony.com|access-date=2021-12-07|archive-date=2021-12-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207105947/https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/e-mount-body-ilce-7-series/ilce-7m4/specifications|url-status=live}}</ref> offer capturing images in 10-bit HEIF format with an HDR format that uses [[HLG10|HLG]].

* The [[Fujifilm X-H2S]],<ref>{{cite web|url= https://fujifilm-dsc.com/en/manual/x-h2s/technical_notes/spec/|title=Fujifilm X-H2S Specifications|access-date=2023-02-18}}</ref> [[Fujifilm X-H2]],<ref>{{cite web|url= https://fujifilm-dsc.com/en/manual/x-h2/technical_notes/spec/|title=Fujifilm X-H2 Specifications|access-date=2023-02-18}}</ref> [[Fujifilm X-T5]],<ref>{{cite web|url= https://fujifilm-dsc.com/en/manual/x-t5/technical_notes/spec/|title=Fujifilm X-T5 Specifications|access-date=2023-02-18}}</ref> and [[Fujifilm X100VI]]<ref>{{cite web|url= https://fujifilm-dsc.com/en/manual/x100vi/technical_notes/spec/|title=Fujifilm X100VI Specifications|access-date=2024-05-06}}</ref> offers a choice of JPEG or 10-bit HEIF file formats.

* The [[Nikon Z9]] and [[Nikon Z8]] offer 10-bit HEIF file formats.

* Multiple Qualcomm Snapdragon SoCs support capturing images in HEIC format (e.g. Snapdragon 888,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.qualcomm.com/media/documents/files/qualcomm-snapdragon-865-5g-mobile-platform-product-brief.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2020-05-22 |archive-date=2020-04-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410195009/https://www.qualcomm.com/media/documents/files/qualcomm-snapdragon-865-5g-mobile-platform-product-brief.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Snapdragon 662<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.qualcomm.com/products/snapdragon-662-mobile-platform|title=Snapdragon 662 Mobile Platform|date=January 14, 2020|website=Qualcomm|access-date=May 22, 2020|archive-date=February 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222180029/https://www.qualcomm.com/products/snapdragon-662-mobile-platform|url-status=live}}</ref>). Some of their latest SoCs also support capturing in HEIC with HDR (e.g. Snapdragon 8 Gen 1,<ref>{{cite web|date=2020-11-17|title=Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G Mobile Platform {{!}} Latest 5G Snapdragon Processor|url=https://www.qualcomm.com/products/snapdragon-888-5g-mobile-platform|access-date=2021-06-06|website=Qualcomm |archive-date=2021-06-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210601172132/https://www.qualcomm.com/products/snapdragon-888-5g-mobile-platform|url-status=live}}</ref> Snapdragon 780<ref>{{cite web|date=2021-03-25|title=Snapdragon 780G 5G Mobile Platform|url=https://www.qualcomm.com/products/snapdragon-780g-5g-mobile-platform|access-date=2021-06-06|website=Qualcomm |archive-date=2021-06-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607113025/https://www.qualcomm.com/products/snapdragon-780g-5g-mobile-platform|url-status=live}}</ref>).

* The [[iPhone 7]] and later devices from [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] can capture media in HEIF or HEVC format.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Using HEIF or HEVC Media on Apple Devices |website=Support.Apple.com |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207022 |access-date=2021-07-08 |archive-date=2021-06-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614231328/https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207022 |url-status=live }}</ref>

* [[Android (operating system)|Android]] smartphones like [[Xiaomi 12]], [[Oppo Reno|OPPO Reno 7 5G]], [[Samsung Galaxy S21|Samsung Galaxy S21 5G]] can capture images in HEIF format. [[Android 13]] and higher support 10-bit camera output.<ref name=":4" />

* The [[Hasselblad]] X2D camera following updates had been updated to support 10-bit HEIF output.<ref>{{Cite web |title=X2D-100c Firmware Update 3.1.0 |date=2022-07-05 |url=https://www.hasselblad.com/x-system/firmware/x2d-100c-firmware-update-3-1-0/ |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=Hasselblad }}</ref> The CFV 100C digital back was released also supporting the HEIF format.<ref>{{Cite web |title=907X & CFV-100C Digital Back FAQ |url=https://www.hasselblad.com/v-system/907x-cfv-100c-faq/ |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=Hasselblad }}</ref>

=== Websites ===

* During May 2020, online [[Advanced Placement]] exams allowed students to submit photos of handwritten responses. Because the website was unable to process HEIF images, students whose phones defaulted to this image format were considered to have not submitted any response and often failed to complete the exam. [[College Board]], which administers the exams, later provided a system for users to submit photos of answers via email. Because the iOS Mail app automatically converts HEIF images to JPEG, this mitigated the problem.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chin |first1=Monica |title=Students are failing AP tests because the College Board can't handle iPhone photos |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/20/21262302/ap-test-fail-iphone-photos-glitch-email-college-board-jpeg-heic |access-date=22 May 2020 |work=The Verge |date=20 May 2020 |archive-date=22 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522000029/https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/20/21262302/ap-test-fail-iphone-photos-glitch-email-college-board-jpeg-heic |url-status=live }}</ref>

* [[Facebook]] supports the upload of HEIC but converts to JPEG or WEBP on display.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gallagher|first=William|date=2018-11-16|title=How to work with, edit, and share HEIC images without data loss|url=https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/11/16/how-to-work-with-edit-and-share-heic-images-without-data-loss|access-date=2020-08-14|publisher=[[Apple Insider]]|archive-date=2020-08-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813211920/https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/11/16/how-to-work-with-edit-and-share-heic-images-without-data-loss|url-status=live}}</ref>

* [[Discord]] does not support HEIC at all.<ref>{{cite web |last=Technik |date=2019-10-27 |title=Feature Request: Support for HEIF images - Discord Support Community |url=https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/360054609851-Feature-Request-Support-for-HEIF-images |website=Discord Support Community}}</ref>

* [[Wikimedia Commons]] does not support HEIC.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Commons:File types - Wikimedia Commons |url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:File_types |access-date=2025-07-12 |website=commons.wikimedia.org |language=en}}</ref>

== Patent licensing ==

{{Further|High Efficiency Video Coding#Patent holders}}

HEIF itself is a container that may not be subject to additional royalty fees for commercial ISOBMFF licensees. Nokia also grants its patents on a royalty-free basis for non-commercial purposes.<ref name="nokiaheiflicense">{{cite web |title=Nokia High-Efficiency Image File Format (HEIF) License |website=[[GitHub]] |url=https://github.com/nokiatech/heif/blob/master/LICENSE.TXT |access-date=2020-05-07 |archive-date=2020-11-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112020815/https://github.com/nokiatech/heif/blob/master/LICENSE.TXT |url-status=live }}</ref> When containing images and image sequences encoded in a particular format (e.g., HEVC or AVC) its use becomes subject to the licensing of patents on the coding format.<ref name="ars">{{cite web |title=macOS High Sierra tech preview: A quick look at the stuff you can't see |url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/2017/06/macos-high-sierra-tech-preview-a-quick-look-at-the-stuff-you-cant-see/ |access-date=2017-07-04 |date=2017-06-19 |quote=If there's one major downside to both HEVC and HEIF, it's that they're covered by patents that may need to be licensed for use in various apps and services. |archive-date=2017-06-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620001037/https://arstechnica.com/apple/2017/06/macos-high-sierra-tech-preview-a-quick-look-at-the-stuff-you-cant-see/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="jpgtoheif">{{cite web |title=Converting a JPEG to the new HEIF format |url=http://jpgtoheif.com/ |access-date=2017-07-04 |quote=HEIF and HEVC are extensively covered by patents, which means there could be legal implications to implementing HEIF support, particularly in paid software or a hardware product. |archive-date=2017-07-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707214211/http://jpgtoheif.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="beamr-on-licensing">{{cite web |title=Apple Endorses New Image Format, HEIF |url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/apple-endorses-new-image-format-heif-jan-ozer |access-date=2017-10-31 |date=2017-06-12 |first1=Jan |last1=Ozer |first2=Dror |last2=Gill |archive-date=2019-03-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321220755/https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/apple-endorses-new-image-format-heif-jan-ozer |url-status=live }}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Better Portable Graphics]] (BPG) – another image file format using HEVC encoding, published by [[Fabrice Bellard]] in 2014

* [[JPEG XL]] – an image file format developed since 2019 (standardization completed since 2022) and based on Google {{ill|PIK (image format)|lt=PIK|qid=Q72886365}} and Cloudinary [[Free Lossless Image Format|FLIF]] (itself based upon {{ill|Free Universal Image Format|lt=FUIF|qid=Q72886200}}) claiming to outperform PNG, WebP, BPG and JPEG 2000 for lossless encoding at least

* [[WebP]] – an image file format that features both lossy (based on [[VP8]] and [[VP9]]) and lossless (independently developed) compression

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

<references />__FORCETOC__

== External links ==

* {{Official website}}

* [http://mpeg.chiariglione.org/standards/mpeg-h/image-file-format HEIF] – MPEG Image File Format standard site

* [https://nokiatech.github.io/heif HEIF] – format site at [[Nokia]] with [https://github.com/nokiatech/heif source code] at [[GitHub]]

* [https://github.com/strukturag/libheif libheif] – source code at [[GitHub]]

* [https://heic.digital/samples/ Sample HEIC files] - image gallery at [https://heic.digital/ HEIC Digital]

{{Compression formats}}

{{MPEG}}

[[Category:Animated graphics file formats]]

[[Category:Computer-related introductions in 2015]]

[[Category:Graphics standards]]

[[Category:Image compression]]

[[Category:MPEG-H]]

[[Category:High dynamic range file formats]]