Image format
What is a .svg file?
SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) is an image format made of shapes instead of pixels. It stays sharp at any size, which makes it the usual format for logos and icons on the web.
An SVG is a text file written in XML, so it can be edited with code and styled with CSS. It doesn’t suit photos, which have no shapes to describe.
fileclay opens SVG but doesn’t write it
SVG vs PNG vs PDF
| SVG | PNG | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Content | Vector | Pixels | Vector and pixels |
| Scaling | Always sharp | Blurs when enlarged | Vector parts stay sharp |
| Transparency | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Browsers | All | All | All |
| Best for | Logos, icons | Screenshots, graphics | Documents, print |
When to use SVG
Good for
- Logos that appear at many sizes
- Icons and simple illustrations on a website
- Charts and diagrams
Not a good fit
- Photos: they need pixels
- Very detailed drawings, which produce huge files
- Apps that only accept PNG or JPG
How to open .svg files
| Platform | App | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Browsers | Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge | Drag the file into a tab |
| Editors | Inkscape, Illustrator, Figma | Full editing |
| Any system | A text editor | Shows the code |
Convert SVG files
Questions about SVG
Is SVG better than PNG?
For logos and icons, yes: it stays sharp at any size. For photos and screenshots, PNG is the right choice.
Can an SVG contain a photo?
Yes, embedded as an image, but that part stays pixels and doesn’t scale cleanly.
Is SVG safe to upload?
It can contain scripts, so many sites reject or clean SVG uploads.
Does converting SVG to PNG lose anything?
The file becomes pixels at a fixed size, so it stops scaling cleanly.