What Is a HEIC File and What Is It Used For?

Have you ever AirDropped a photo from your iPhone to your MacBook and noticed it appeared in a weird file format? What in the world does “HEIC” mean? Why is it named on the photo instead of something more traditional like a JPG or TIFF? Don’t fear. There’s nothing wrong with your iPhone, your MacBook, or your photo itself. As it turns out, the HEIC format is perfectly normal and totally acceptable across a variety of technologies and software. Here’s what you need to know about this particular file format.

HEIC File Explained

HEIC images — or High-Efficiency Image Codec, as they’re technically known — are part of a much larger family known as HEIFs. Similarly, these are formally known as High Efficiency Image File Formats. There are many different kinds of HEIFs. HEICs are just one, and they pertain specifically to images. They’re comparable in quality to JPEGs, but they take up much less space on average. This is probably the most obvious reason they’re used in place of JPEGs today.

In more technical terms, HEICs — and HEIFs at large — are standardized container formats trusted for storing individual digital files. These particular standards cover everything from images to video to text files and beyond. If it’s a multimedia format, it likely has a standardization under the HEIF banner. Interestingly, HEICs can store both SDR and HDR images alike without loss of quality or dynamic range.

Each HEIF type has its own particular encoding format. For HEICs, that format is HEVC. HEVC is the default image codec for HEIFs, but it also covers video encoding as well. This is what HEIC files are: HEIF files containing HEVC-encoded images. HEIC files — and HEIF at large — were popularized after being embraced by Apple with the release of iOS 11 in 2017. However, the introduction of HEIFs actually dates back to 2015.

Uses for a HEIC File

Now that you have a better grasp on the HEIC file type as well as what it means, let’s run through a few common uses for a HEIC file in your day-to-day. From technology to software to data and everything in between, the HEIC is a highly versatile and incredibly popular file type in our world today. Here are three common uses for high-efficiency image codecs in our daily lives.

iPhones and iPads

From HDR photos to live photos to camera bursts and beyond, the camera capabilities on your average iPhone are second to none. With so many different image types, however, Apple knew it couldn’t depend solely on the JPEG. For this reason, the tech company embraced the HEIC with iOS 11 in 2017. Now, Apple can turn any photo you take into a HEIC. It helps keep things organized while also keeping your storage space from filling up faster. The same thing goes for the iPad.

Graphic Design

Another great use for HEIC files is in the world of graphic design. This is also an area where the HEIC has a leg up over the JPEG. You see, JPEGs cannot support transparent backgrounds. HEIC can, though. These transparent backgrounds are essential in graphic design and logo work. PNGs and HEICs can both support transparent backgrounds whereas JPEGs can’t. Next time you’re working with transparent elements in an image design, turn to HEIC.

Storage

Another common use for HEICs? Storing photos on your hard drive. JPEGs take up much more space than your average HEIC for the same exact image dimensions. This is why it’s worth your while to convert images to the HEIC format when storing them. You’ll save space on your hard drive without having to reduce the image size or sacrifice any quality. Then, if you need a JPEG for any reason, you can simply convert the HEIC back to the other format.

HEIC File Variants

As we mentioned above, the HEIC file is just one of several different HEIF types. High-Efficiency Image File Formats have at least five different variants in circulation today (including HEICs). Let’s briefly review four other variants below. These alternative formats take the same basic principles behind the HEIF and apply them to other file types and applications. After this, we’ll weigh the pros and cons of HIECs.

MIAF

MIAFs — or Multi-Image Application Formats — fall under the MPEG-A specifications. This means they’re used to define any additional restrictions when simplifying HEIF formats. Essentially, MIAFs preserve metadata and information on the relationship between the HEIF files. This can be very useful when you need to retain the image credits and source info associated with the photo files.

AVCI

AVCIs represent Advanced Video Coding within the confines of HEIFs. This ancient encoding format originally dates back to 2003 before being enveloped into the HEIF fold. It is used for both photos and videos under the banner of High-Efficiency Image File Formats.

AVIF

AV1 is a free, open video coding format that was first used to help transmit videos over the Internet in the early days of the net. Today, it has found support under the HEIF umbrella in the form of AVIFs. It’s an image format based on AV1’s codec. While it might not be as widely used as the HEIC, it certainly still has its uses today.

WXAM

WXAM files are exclusive to WeChat and other Tencent platforms. According to reports, this proprietary image file format is based on HEVCs. For this reason, it’s fair to consider it an unofficial HEIC variant.

HEIC File: Pros and Cons

The image featured at the top of this post is ©VGstockstudio/Shutterstock.com.