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Definition
SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) is an XML-based vector image format for two-dimensional graphics. Unlike raster formats such as PNG or JPEG, SVG images scale to any size without losing quality, making them ideal for logos, icons, and illustrations on the web.
SVG files describe images using mathematical shapes — paths, circles, rectangles, and curves — rather than grids of pixels. This fundamental difference means an SVG logo looks crisp on a phone screen, a 4K monitor, and a printed billboard without needing different file sizes. The format has been a W3C standard since 2001 and is supported by all modern browsers.
Because SVGs are plain XML text, they can be styled with CSS, animated with JavaScript or CSS animations, and edited in any text editor. This makes SVG the preferred format for icons, logos, charts, diagrams, and UI elements on the web. SVG files are typically very small for simple graphics but can grow large for complex illustrations with thousands of paths.
SVGs are not suitable for photographs or complex images with continuous color gradients — raster formats like JPEG or WebP handle those better. For web developers, inline SVGs offer the best performance and flexibility, while SVG files can also be used as image sources or CSS backgrounds.